Department for Transport

Motor Vehicles: Brakes

Mr Virendra Sharma: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, if he will create incentives to increase the take-up of cars equipped with autonomous emergency braking.

Mr Virendra Sharma: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what research his Department has undertaken on the potential of autonomous emergency braking to reduce injuries and death caused by traffic accidents.

Claire Perry: The Government has no current plans to incentivise the adoption of this technology. The Department for Transport and has not undertaken specific research regarding its potential benefits but continues to support the uptake of safer vehicles through the provision of objective advice to vehicle purchasers through its membership of Euro NCAP (European New Car Assessment Programme).

Motorcycles: Accidents

Chris Ruane: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, how many (a) accidents and (b) deaths there have been involving motorcyclists on roads treated with loose-gravel surface dressing in each of the last 10 years.

Mr Robert Goodwill: The Department does not hold any information about the surface of or treatments applied to the roads at the location of accidents within the road accident dataset (Stats19 data).

Transport: Oxygen

Cathy Jamieson: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, when regulations governing transportation of oxygen cylinders in private vehicles were last reviewed; and what plans his Department has for future such reviews.

Claire Perry: Private vehicles are currently exempted from regulations regarding the transport of dangerous goods. Regulations regarding the transport of dangerous goods are under constant review, negotiated under a United Nations agreement and are updated on a biennial basis, the last update was adopted in 2013 and the next is due to be adopted in 2015. Review of applicable exemptions often features in negotiations and is the subject of a working paper raised by Switzerland to be discussed at the next meeting to take place over the period 3rd to 7th November 2014 in Geneva (see http://www.unece.org/fileadmin/DAM/trans/doc/2014/dgwp15/ECE-TRANS-WP15-2014-10e.pdf).

Transport: Oxygen

Cathy Jamieson: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what guidance on health and safety and insurance his Department provides to people who need to transport oxygen cylinders in private vehicles for healthcare purposes.

Mr Robert Goodwill: The carriage of items such as compressed oxygen in their cars by medical and para-medical staff is regarded as exempt from the European Agreement concerning the International Carriage of Dangerous Goods by Road, known as ADR (a French acronym) provided that measures have been taken to prevent any leakage of the contents in normal conditions of carriage. It is the responsibility of the user/ operator of the vehicle to ensure that any particular use of the vehicle such as the carriage of oxygen is fully covered by their policy of insurance and to arrange extra cover where it is required. The Department does not give specific guidance on insurance to people transporting these cylinders because individual insurers assess risk differently.

Private Finance Initiative

Simon Kirby: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what the total private finance initiative liabilities of his Department are for the next 20 years; and if he will make a statement.

Claire Perry: The Department has the following liabilities over the next 20 years under the private finance initiative contracts to which it is counterparty: These are the latest available figures and represent the forecast nominal cash payments due under the contracts over this period (2014-15 to 2033-34).   The Department also provides financial support to Local Authorities for a number of private finance initiative transport projects, though these are not the Department’s liabilities. Further information on these Local Authority sponsored projects can be found at the following web address. This currently provides information as at 31 March 2013 but will be updated shortly with data as at 31 March 2014: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/private-finance-initiative-projects-2013-summary-data



Table
(Excel SpreadSheet, 11.91 KB)

Aviation: Fares

Dr Alasdair McDonnell: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what recent assessment he has made of the effect on the economy of (a) Northern Ireland and (b) the UK of the cost of air fares to and from Northern Ireland.

Mr Robert Goodwill: The Government has not made an assessment of the economic effects on Northern Ireland or the UK of the cost of air fares to and from Northern Ireland. However, we said in last year’s Aviation Policy Framework that the aviation sector’s economic output to the whole UK economy in 2011 was approximately £18 billion, and that it employs around 220,000 workers directly and supports many more indirectly. We recognise that airports across the UK play an important role in securing connectivity for local populations and their contribution to local, regional and national economies.

Travel: Sustainable Development

Richard Burden: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, if he will provide further details of his Department's spending on sustainable travel, as listed in section G of the Department's annual report and accounts 2013-14, by category of expenditure, in each year for which figures are available.

Claire Perry: This information is available on data.gov here: https://www.gov.uk/government/collections/hmt-oscar-publishing-from-the-database   This information in the table below is taken from the HM Treasury reporting database. 



HM Treasury Reporting Database Table
(Excel SpreadSheet, 48.5 KB)

M20

Sir Hugh Robertson: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, whether his Department has plans to include any noise reducing measures to the imminent resurfacing of the M20 between junctions eight and nine; and if he will make a statement.

Mr John Hayes: The forthcoming scheme between junctions 8 and 9 of the M20 is to retexture the existing concrete carriageway, rather than resurface. The concrete on this stretch of road has worn down and become smoother over time and so there is a need to install grooves to improve skid resistance, to increase safety for road users. The Highways Agency will resurface this stretch at the end of its serviceable life with a material that has lower noise generating properties.

Roads

Richard Burden: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, pursuant to the Answer of 15 October 2014 to Question 208884, whether cost benefit ratios exist for all current Highways Agency minor schemes under development.

Mr John Hayes: Benefit Cost Ratios (BCRs) exist for the vast majority of all current Highways Agency minor schemes under development. This is because the Highways Agency seeks to deliver best value for money and maximise the return on their investments across all programmes of work. However, some schemes are classed as non-appraisable or have benefits that cannot be monetised. In these cases it is not possible to calculate a BCR.

Traffic Lights

Dr Julian Huppert: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, whether his Department plans to give permission to (a) Transport for London and (b) any local authority to introduce adcance stop lines at temporary traffic lights.

Mr Robert Goodwill: Advanced Stop Lines are currently permitted for use at permanent signal junctions only. The revisions to the Traffic Signs Regulations and General Directions scheduled for March 2015 will allow their use with temporary traffic lights, but there will be practical issues to consider as many are only in place for a short time.

Large Goods Vehicles: Speed Limits

Richard Burden: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what assessment he has made of the effect of the increase in HGV speed limits on single and dual carriageways on (a) drivers' perceptions of speed and (b) enforcement of speed limits.

Claire Perry: The impact assessments of the changes consider the effect of the speed limit change on single carriageways, and possible change on dual carriageways on actual behaviour in terms of speeds driven. They do not specifically consider drivers’ perceptions of speed. One effect noted in these assessments is that there will be many fewer heavy goods vehicles breaking the higher speed limits, making targeted enforcement of any remaining infringements easier. Enforcement resources saved due to better compliance could be used for other enforcement work, including related to local road speed limits, subject to local policing decisions. With regard to the conduct of vocational drivers in relation to their driving licences, the intention is to view breaking the higher speed limits as a higher risk factor than the current infringements. The senior traffic commissioner plans to consult on revised guidance during the coming months.

Large Goods Vehicles: Speed Limits

Richard Burden: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, if his Department will conduct an impact assessment for increasing HGV speed limits on dual carriageway roads in the same format as the the impact assessment for increasing HGV speed limits on single carriageway roads.

Claire Perry: The Department for Transport published an impact assessment as part of the public consultation about examining the speed limit for Heavy Goods Vehicles (HGVs) over 7.5 tonnes on dual carriageway roads, which closed on 5 September 2014 (see https://www.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/336308/consultation-impact-assessment.pdf). It is in the standard format, as is the impact assessment for single carriageways.

Home Office

Animal Experiments: Licensing

Mike Weatherley: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, if she will take steps to enable interested parties to have access to appropriately redacted Project Licence applications made under the Animals (Scientific Procedures) Act 1986 prior to approval being given for consultation on scientific and animal welfare grounds; and if she will make a statement.

Norman Baker: There are currently no plans to enable third parties to have access to redacted project licence applications made under the Animals (Scientific Procedures) Act 1986 prior to approval. The Government only authorises procedures on animals after rigorous checks. Under the 1986 Act there is a statutory requirement for scrutiny by, in the first instance, the Animal Welfare Ethical Review Body at the Establishment where the work will be performed, and then an assessment is made by the Home Office Inspectorate. The Animals in Science Committee may also be asked for advice on specific applications.The Inspector’s assessment of an application will include a rigorous harm / benefit analysis which requires access to all of the information in an application. This will take into consideration discussions held with the applicant and knowledge of the establishment where the work will take place. Inspectors use criteria such as the proposed scientific methodology, the resources available to the applicant and their track record with regard to publications and animal use, to determine how likely the benefits are to be delivered. This would form part of the information which may subsequently be redacted. Inspectors may also seek further information either from the applicant, from the scientific literature or from specialist knowledge within the Inspectorate to understand the context and the value of those benefits.As a consequence the Inspectorate and, when appropriate, the Animals in Science Committee are the only bodies who can advise the Secretary of State on whether, and on what terms, the work should be authorised. In the interests of openness and transparency, and to aid public understanding the Home Office publicly committed to publish details of the investigation and outcome of substantial investigations into compliance with the Animals (Scientific Procedures) Act 1986. The first three reports were published on 2 October 2014, and further reports will be published as set out in our publications policy. The reports can be found at; https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/compliance-investigations-by-the-animals-in-science-regulation-unit

Immigrants: Detainees

Stephen Doughty: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how many people aged (a) under 18 and (b) 18 and over who have been detained in immigration removal centres (IRCs) in England and Wales are missing having left the premises without permission from each IRC.

James Brokenshire: No detainees absconded from the detention estate located in England and Wales in 2013, the latest year for which figures have been published.The Home Office publishes quarterly and annual statistics on the number of people detained in the United Kingdom for immigration purposes, within Immigration Statistics: April – June 2014, from the GOV.UK website: https://www.gov.uk/government/organisations/home-office/series/immigration-statistics-quarterly-release.

Vetting

Ian Austin: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what estimate she has made of (a) how many and (b) what proportion of Disclosure and Barring Service applications took longer than 60 days in each of the last five years.

Karen Bradley: The number and proportion of Disclosure applications that took longer than 60 days to process is provided in the table below. The Disclosure and Barring Service was established in December 2012. Data prior to this date relates to the Criminal Records Bureau.  Financial YearTotal DespatchedNumber issued over 60 days% issued over 60 days2014-15 year to date2,046,23360,2492.9%2013-143,948,73383,2992.1%2012-134,066,60542,8391.1%2011-124,074,241105,2602.6%2010-114,311,816454,06510.5%2009-104,299,496354,1508.2%Total22,747,1241,099,8624.8%

Vetting

Ian Austin: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what the time targets are for the return of Disclosure and Barring Service applications.

Karen Bradley: The current Disclosure and Barring Service service standard is to issue 88% of all Disclosures within 40 working days.

Children: Employment

Stephen McPartland: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what steps she is taking to compel multi-national companies to take steps to prevent child slavery in their supply chains.

Karen Bradley: We are working proactively with business to prevent modern slavery in supply chains. The Modern Slavery Bill will now include a measure requiring companies to disclose what they have done to ensure their supply chains are slavery free, including steps to prevent child slavery. The move is aimed at large businesses and will apply regardless of the nature of the company or what it supplies, whether goods or services. We will consult to determine the appropriate size of business that will be affected to ensure that that the final provision is fair, workable and robust. We will also consult on, and develop statutory guidance to help businesses understand how they can comply with the disclosure requirement.This transparency measure will help customers, investors and the general public to see what action major businesses are undertaking to secure a slavery-free supply chain. By requiring companies to disclose what they have done to ensure their supply chains are slavery free, the Government is seeking to harness consumer and shareholder pressure. We will continue to work with businesses to help them take practical action in this area.

Terrorism

Emily Thornberry: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how many (a) pre-charge decisions, (b) out-of-court disposals, (c) prosecutions and (d) convictions there have been for each offence created by the (i) Terrorism Act 2000, (ii) Anti-Terrorism, Crime and Security Act 2001, (iii) Prevention of Terrorism Act 2005, (iv) Terrorism Act 2006 and (v) Counter-Terrorism Act 2008 to date.

James Brokenshire: Data on counter-terrorism arrests, charges and convictions are available in the Home Office statistical release ‘Operation of police powers under the Terrorism Act 2000 and subsequent legislation: Arrests, outcomes and stops and searches’. This statistical release can be accessed from the Gov.UK website at: www.gov.uk/home-office

Asylum: Syria

Sarah Teather: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how many Syrian people have been resettled in the UK under the Syrian Vulnerable Persons Relocation scheme since the launch of that scheme.

James Brokenshire: The Home Office publishes statistics on the number of people granted Humanitarian Protection in the UK under the Syrian Vulnerable Persons Relocation scheme in Table as_19 (Asylum data table Volume 4) of the quarterly Immigration Statistics release.A copy of the latest release, Immigration Statistics April – June 2014, is available from: https://www.gov.uk/government/organisations/home-office/series/immigration-statistics-quarterly-release.In the year ending June 2014, a total of 50 people were granted Humanitarian Protection under the Syrian Vulnerable Persons Relocation Scheme.

Asylum

Sir Nicholas Soames: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how many asylum applicants were (a) granted refugee status, (b) granted Humanitarian Protection or Discretionary Leave and (c) refused asylum, Humanitarian Protection or Discretionary Leave at initial decision in (i) 2010, (ii) 2011, (iii) 2012 and (iv) 2013 cohorts of asylum applicants; how many appeals against those decisions were lodged in each of those years; and of those appeals how many were (A) allowed and (B) dismissed.

James Brokenshire: Published figures on initial decisions for main asylum applicants, including grants of asylum, Humanitarian Protection and Discretionary Leave, and refusals, are available in Table as_01 of the quarterly Immigration Statistics release. Figures relate to decisions made in the given year, rather than for a cohort of applicants.Published figures on the number of asylum appeal applications and determinations, including appeals allowed and appeals dismissed, are available in Table as_14 (Asylum data table Volume 1) of the quarterly Immigration Statistics release. A copy of the latest release, Immigration Statistics April – June 2014, is available from https://www.gov.uk/government/organisations/home-office/series/immigration-statistics-quarterly-release.

Members: Correspondence

Sheila Gilmore: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, when she intends to reply to the letter of 9 September 2014 from the hon. Member for Edinburgh East.

James Brokenshire: I wrote to the hon. Member separately on this individual case on Monday 13 October.

Asylum: Middle East

Andrew Rosindell: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how many defined Christians entering the UK from Iraq and Syria have claimed asylum on the grounds of religious persecution in each year since 2012.

James Brokenshire: Information on the basis of claim for asylum is not centrally recorded, and the information requested in the Hon. Member’s question could only be obtained through a manual search of individual case files. This would exceed the cost limit.

Illegal Immigrants: Ebola

Paul Flynn: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what steps she is taking to ensure stowaway illegal immigrants entering UK ports are assessed for Ebola.

James Brokenshire: All arrivals into the UK, including those detected when entering clandestinely, continue to be assessed in accordance with specific Public Health England guidance issued to all Border Force and Immigration Enforcement officers in August 2014. If there is any indication of a health risk, Home Office officials will immediately contact medical professionals and follow well-established protocols. If there is no indication of a health risk the individual will be dealt with according to the standard immigration procedures.

Asylum: Havering

Andrew Rosindell: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how many asylum seekers were registered as residing in the London Borough of Havering at the latest date for which figures are available.

James Brokenshire: Statistics on the location of asylum seekers in the UK are linked to the available information on those asylum seekers who are in receipt of section 95 support. The numbers of asylum seekers in receipt of support are available broken down by Local Authority.As at the end of June 2014, there were 26 asylum seekers receiving Section 95 support from Havering Local Authority. These figures exclude any asylum seekers who may be living in Havering but are not receiving support, as figures are not held.The numbers of asylum seekers in receipt of section 95 support, broken down by Local Authority, are published on a quarterly basis by the Home Office in Table as_16_q of the Immigration Statistics release. Copies of the latest publication is available on the Gov.UK website:https://www.gov.uk/government/organisations/home-office/series/immigration-statistics-quarterly-release.

Crimes of Violence: Havering

Andrew Rosindell: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how many violent assaults have been reported to police in the London Borough of Havering in each year since January 2011.

Norman Baker: The Home Office does not collect data on the number of offences that are reported to the police. Not all crimes that are reported to the police will be recorded. The table provided shows the number of offences classified as ‘violence with injury’ recorded by the police in Havering by calendar year.The data are also available from: https://www.gov.uk/government/statistics/police-recorded-crime-open-data-tables  Violence with injury offences recorded by the police in HaveringYearNumber of offences 20111,431 20121,415 20131,301

Foreign Workers: Recruitment

Sir Nicholas Soames: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what assessment she has made of the effectiveness of operation of the cap on recruitment of non-EU workers.

James Brokenshire: The annual limit, together with other reforms the Government has made since 2010, is helping to deliver an immigration system which works in the national interest: welcoming migrant workers who will contribute to economic growth, while reducing numbers to a more sustainable level and eliminating abuse.The limit was last formally reviewed in 2012 by the Migration Advisory Committee, who recommended no change to its level. The Government has committed to maintaining the limit at 20,700 places per year for at least the remainder of this parliament, to provide businesses with a period of policy stability.The limit is working effectively and we continue to monitor its operation. Non-EU net migration was 218,000 in September 2010. We have cut it to 162,000 – down 56,000 under this Government. At the same time, the limit has not prevented businesses recruiting people with the skills they need.

Organised Crime: EU Law

Jacob Rees-Mogg: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, pursuant to the Answer of 2 September 2014 to Question 207073, whether the UK could take part, through membership of the relevant EU Council working groups, in the sharing of advice and best practice between EU member states on fighting organised crime if it did not opt back into Joint Action 97/827/JHA.

Karen Bradley: The Home Office has indicated that it will not be possible to answer this question within the usual time period. An answer is being prepared and will be provided as soon as it is available.

Foreign and Commonwealth Office

Sri Lanka

Dr Matthew Offord: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what assessment his Department has made of the accuracy of reports that Tamils deported to Sri Lanka have been subjected to torture and sexual abuse.

Mr Hugo Swire: This Government fully complies with all of its international obligations under the 1951 United Nations Convention Relating to the Status of Refugees and the European Convention on Human Rights. The Home Office assesses each asylum and human rights claim case carefully on its individual merits, taking full account of the latest available country information, case law and UNHCR Eligibility Guidelines for Assessing the Internal Protection Needs of Asylum Seekers. Individuals who face a risk of ill treatment, including torture, on return to Sri Lanka will be granted international protection, and would not be returned. The British Government is aware of cases of torture happens in Sri Lanka and we regularly raise it with the Sri Lankan authorities.

Private Finance Initiative

Simon Kirby: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what the total private finance initiative liabilities of his Department are for the next 20 years; and if he will make a statement.

Mr David Lidington: The Foreign and Commonwealth Office (FCO) has only one private finance initiative liability. This is in relation to the British Embassy in Berlin. The FCO Berlin Private Finance Initiative (PFI) liability (the Unitary Payment) expires in June 2030. The Unitary Payment under the PFI agreement is annually indexed using an agreed index formula. The value of the PFI is commercially sensitive, as the release of such information would likely be commercially disadvantageous to the FCO when tendering future contracts as part of the initiative.

Antisemitism

John Mann: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, how many times he or Ministers in his Department have raised concerns about anti-Semitism with their counterparts in (a) France, (b) Germany, (c) Holland, (d) Belgium, (e) Poland, (f) Australia, (g) the US and (h) Ireland since 2010.

Mr David Lidington: We are concerned about all instances of anti-Semitism, and regularly raise this issue with a number of countries, including those referred to in the Honorable Member's question, though we do not hold a central record of every time we have done so. Our Embassies and High Commissions monitor cases of anti-Semitism and raise them with their host governments. We support the efforts of EU partners to tackle racism in all its forms. For instance, a number of Ministers, including the Home Secretary, strongly condemned the murders at the Jewish Museum in Brussels in May.Anti-Semitism (and particularly Holocaust denial and denigration) are regularly discussed during meetings of the International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance (IHRA) in a dedicated Committee, and as a formal agenda item during the plenary meetings held twice a year. The UK Envoy for Post-Holocaust Issues, Sir Andrew Burns, leads an active UK delegation in these discussions. All the states to which your question refers are members of IHRA, with the exception of Australia.The Foreign and Commonwealth Office also works very closely with the UK Member of the European Commission against Racism and Intolerance (ECRI), who provides expert advice on tackling anti-Semitism to the British Government and internationally.The British Government will be represented at a senior level at the tenth anniversary of the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE) Conference and Declaration on Anti-Semitism, being held in Berlin on 13 November 2014.

Hong Kong

Kerry McCarthy: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what assessment he has made of the extent to which the proposals for the 2017 elections in Hong Kong will fulfil the aim of universal suffrage.

Mr Hugo Swire: We monitor the situation in Hong Kong closely. We recognise that the detailed terms that the National People’s Congress (NPC) has set for the 2017 election, will disappoint those who are arguing for a more open nomination process. The UK’s position on constitutional reform has always been that the detail of the constitutional package is for the Governments of Hong Kong and China and the people of Hong Kong to decide in line with the Basic Law. While we recognise that there is no perfect model, the important thing is that the people of Hong Kong have a genuine choice and feel that they have a real stake in the outcome.

Cabinet Office

Immigration: EU Nationals

Steve McCabe: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, if he will make an estimate of the number of EU migrants arriving in the UK for work since 1 January 2014.

Mr Rob Wilson: The information requested falls within the responsibility of the UK Statistics Authority. I have asked the Authority to reply. 



ONS Letter to Member - EU Migrants
(PDF Document, 96.34 KB)

Public Sector: Staff

Mr Gregory Campbell: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, what estimate he has made of the change in proportion of the working age population employed by the public sector in (a) England, (b) Wales, (c) Scotland and (d) Northern Ireland between 1 January 2012 and 2014.

Mr Rob Wilson: The information requested falls within the responsibility of the UK Statistics Authority. I have asked the Authority to reply. 



ONS Letter to Member - Working Age Population
(PDF Document, 190.04 KB)

Attorney General

Private Finance Initiative

Simon Kirby: To ask the Attorney General, what the total private finance initiative liabilities of the Law Officers' Departments are for the next 20 years; and if he will make a statement.

Mr Robert Buckland: The total private finance initiative liabilities (PFI) of the Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) for the next 20 years are set out in the table below. 2014/152015/16Total £'000£'000£’000 5,9334,55410,487  Under their current terms the CPS’s two PFI contracts are set to expire at the end of November 2015. The CPS PFI liabilities will therefore end in 2015/16.   The figures contained in the table above are drawn from Note 16 of the CPS 2013/14 Annual Report and Accounts, ‘Commitments under PFI contracts’.   The remaining Law Officers’ Departments do not have any PFI liabilities.

Freezing Orders

Emily Thornberry: To ask the Attorney General, what value of asset freezing orders were applied for by the CPS in each of the last eight years.

Mr Robert Buckland: The information is not readily available and could only be obtained at disproportionate cost.

Protection from Harassment Act 1997

Emily Thornberry: To ask the Attorney General, what the conviction rates for offences under Section 2A and 4A of the Protection from Harassment Act 1997 were in 2013-14.

Mr Robert Buckland: The Crown Prosecution Service does not maintain a central record of the number or rate of convictions obtained by act and section. To obtain details of the conviction rate for offences charged by way of Section 2A and 4A of the Protection from Harassment Act 1997 (stalking), would require a manual exercise of reviewing individual case files to be undertaken at a disproportionate cost.

Court Orders

Emily Thornberry: To ask the Attorney General, how much the CPS has spent on defending appeals against asset restraining orders in each of the last seven financial years.

Mr Robert Buckland: The information is not readily available and could only be obtained at disproportionate cost.

Department for Business, Innovation and Skills

Regional Growth Fund

Mr Chuka Umunna: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills, what proportion of the total funds allocated via intermediaries as part of the Regional Growth Fund have been drawn down in each round and was allocated via intermediaries to date.

Greg Clark: £1.64 billion has been allocated to intermediaries across Rounds 1-5 of the Regional Growth Fund and exceptional Regional Growth Fund. The tables show how much of that money has been drawn down to date. All data are correct at 15 October 2014.Round 1Round 2Round 3Round 4Round 5ExceptionalGrand TotalRGF allocated to Programmes (£m)179452561246184161,638RGF grant drawn down to date (£m)1783922967806951   The following table shows the planned RGF grant draw down timetable which has been agreed with these programmes.   RGF Drawn Down by year (£ million)   Financial Year2011-122012-132013-142014-152015-162016-17TotalActual paid – year to date41872286175*  951Planned for whole financial year   67596711,621   *This is the actual amount paid to beneficiaries as of 15 October 2014. The difference between the totals in tables 1 and 2 arises because RGF applicants have not always claimed the full grant available to them.   More detail on which RGF programmes are still available for SMEs to bid into is available at https://www.gov.uk/regional-growth-fund-programmes-guide

Higher Education: Lancashire

Mark Hendrick: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills, how many students at schools in (a) Preston constituency and (b) each other constituency in Lancashire applied for higher education places in each of the last five years.

Greg Clark: Information on the number of applicants from schools in constituencies in Lancashire is not held centrally.

Graduates: Employment

Gloria De Piero: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills, what proportion of students from each ethnic group were (a) working, (b) studying and (c) unemployed six months after leaving higher education.

Greg Clark: The Higher Education Statistics Agency collects and publishes data on leavers from UK Higher Education Institutions. Statistics on the proportion of full-time first degree leavers from each ethnic group who were working, studying and unemployed six months after graduation can be found in the table. Employment has risen and unemployment has fallen for graduates of all ethnic groups in 2011/12 and 2012/13.   Information on leavers at UK Higher Education Institutions in the academic year 2013/14 will become available from Higher Education Statistics Agency in June 2015.   However the most recent Labour Force Survey from August 2014 confirms that employment for recent graduates has continued to rise sharply and unemployment continued to fall over the last year.   Destination of UK domiciled (1) full-time first degree leavers six months after graduation UK Higher Education Institutions Academic Year 2010/11(2) to 2012/13   WorkWhiteBlackAsianOther (including mixed)Not KnownTotal Known10/1165% 56% 56% 59% 57% 64% 11/1269%60% 60% 62% 61% 67% 12/1371%66%64%67%64%70%   Work and further studyWhiteBlackAsianOther (including mixed)Not KnownTotal Known10/118% 7% 9% 7% 8% 8% 11/126% 5% 6% 5% 5% 6% 12/135%4%5%5%6%5%   Further studyWhiteBlackAsianOther (including mixed)Not KnownTotal Known10/1114% 15% 17% 17% 18% 14% 11/1213% 13% 16% 16% 16% 14% 12/1313%12%15%14%16%13%   UnemployedWhiteBlackAsianOther (including mixed)Not KnownTotal Known10/1111% 20% 16% 16% 15% 13% 11/128% 17% 14% 12% 13% 9% 12/137%13%12%9%9%8%   Other (e.g. taking time out to travel)WhiteBlackAsianOther (including mixed)Not KnownTotal Known10/111% 2% 1% 2% 1% 1% 11/125% 5% 4% 5% 5% 5% 12/134%4%4%5%5%4% Source: Destination of Leavers in Higher Education in the UK Notes: 1. Domicile refers to the student’s postcode or permanent address prior to entering their course. 2. The way employment activity was recorded changed in 2011/12 therefore figures for 2010/11 are not on the same basis as 2011/12 and 2012/13 3. Percentages have been rounded, therefore the sum of components may not add up to the total.

Riot Control Weapons: Exports

Mr Roger Godsiff: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills, how much tear gas was exported from the UK last year.

Matthew Hancock: Information on the total value of exports of tear gas from the UK in 2013 is not available from published trade statistics.

Entry Clearances: Overseas Students

Paul Blomfield: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills, what assessment he has made of the effects of the reduction in international student visas issued to students from Pakistan and India from 2013 to 2014 on the higher education sector and the wider economy.

Greg Clark: Government departments, the British Council and the higher education sector are working together to ensure prospective overseas students understand all the benefits which the present visa rules offer them, including the current visa opportunities for working in the UK after they graduate.   India in particular remains a priority country for greater engagement as evidenced by my Rt. Hon. Friend the Deputy Prime Minister’s recent visit; my Rt. Hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills’ recent visit; and my planned visit in November.

Intellectual Property: Research

Mr Virendra Sharma: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills, what guidance his Department provides to public sector research establishments on exploiting intellectual property rights; and what systems his Department has in place to monitor the exploitation of those rights.

Mr Edward Vaizey: Public Sector Research Establishments (PSREs) are the responsibility of a number of Government Departments. No central guidance is issued by the Department for Business Innovation and Skills (BIS) on exploiting intellectual property rights. The approach to doing so is determined by individual PRSEs in consultation with their sponsoring department where appropriate.   However, tools like the Lambert toolkit have been developed, hosted and promoted by the Intellectual Property Office. These can help PSREs conduct effective negotiations in collaborative research projects and includes a set of model IP licensing and ownership agreements.   BIS has conducted surveys of knowledge transfer activities of PSREs since 2002. The results of the most recent survey undertaken earlier this year will be published shortly. This will include data about numbers of patents applied for, numbers granted and income from the licensing of IP.

Private Finance Initiative

Simon Kirby: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills, what the total private finance initiative liabilities of his Department are for the next 20 years; and if he will make a statement.

Jo Swinson: The Departmental Group is involved in two private finance initiatives; an IT infrastructure initiative managed by the Insolvency Service, and a Research Ship managed by the Natural Environment Research Council. The table below sets out the annual unitary payments for the next 20 years as at 31 March 2014.   Project2014-15£m2015-16£m2016-17£m2017-18£m2018-19£m2019-20£mTotal£mResearch Ship2.21.61.61.61.60.69.2IT Infrastructure2.42.32.22.02.00.211.1Total4.63.93.83.63.60.820.3

Childbirth: Employment

Mrs Sharon Hodgson: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills, if his Department will undertake research into the effects of having a baby prematurely born on a mother's labour market attachment.

Jo Swinson: The Government currently has no plans to look at the impact of having a premature baby on the mother’s attachment to the labour market. We will, however, consider the issues facing families with babies admitted to neonatal care within the context of the review of changes to employment law enacted by the Children and Families Act after 2018 – in particular the take up of shared parental leave and pay.   The new system of shared parental leave and pay will give parents much more flexibility in the first year following their child’s birth. This flexibility will be particularly valuable to parents who have to deal with difficult or unexpected circumstances and it will allow parents, for the first time, to take leave together in a way that suits them. The system will be available for working parents whose baby is due on or after 5 April 2015 (irrespective of when the baby is born), and will be introduced later this year so that it catches babies who are born early.

English Language: Education

Mr Adrian Bailey: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills, how many adults enrolled on ESOL courses in further education colleges in each of the last five years.

Nick Boles: Information on ESOL (English for Speakers of Other Languages) participation is published in Table 3 of a Statistical First Release (SFR):   https://www.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/364220/learner-participation-outcomes-and-level-of-highest-qualification-data-tables-oct14.xls

Department for International Development

Private Finance Initiative

Simon Kirby: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development, what the total private finance initiative liabilities of her Department are for the next 20 years; and if she will make a statement.

Lynne Featherstone: DFID has not entered into any Private Finance Initiatives (PFIs). Therefore the total liability for PFIs per the DFID Annual Report and Accounts as at 31 March 2014 and 30 September 2014 is £0.

Nigeria

Mr Nigel Dodds: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development, what steps she is taking to ensure that UK aid provided to the Nigerian Government is allocated only to enact reforms to uphold fundamental freedoms.

Lynne Featherstone: No UK aid goes directly to the Nigerian government; this is to ward against corruption and avoid substituting the country’s own resources.   The UK Government holds regular discussion on Human Rights issues with a number of partner countries including Nigeria. Our programmes aim to improve the general human rights environment in Nigeria.

Afghanistan

Steve McCabe: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development, pursuant to the Answer of 13 October 2014 to Question 208787, what memoranda of understanding her Department has signed with other Afghan agencies in regards to the Bost Agri and Bost Airfield projects from 2009 to date; and if she will place in the Library copies of such memoranda.

Steve McCabe: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development, pursuant to the Answer of 13 October 2014 to Question 208787, on Afghanistan, on what date her Department took the decision to discontinue the MOU; which individual authorised that decision; and for what reasons her Department ended the agreements made in the MOU.

Justine Greening: The Bost industrial business park proposal was originally approved by officials in 2009 at a time when Ministers did not approve spend under £40 million. In December 2012 it became clear that the project could no longer be completed within the original timeframe and in good order. To avoid wasting taxpayers’ money I decided that UK funding for the project should be cancelled and the MOU was ended as a result. The completed park designs have been handed over to the Afghan authorities to enable them to pursue the project over a revised time frame. DFID did not sign any other MoU or similar document in relation to the Bost Agricultural Park and Airfield Projects.

West Africa

Mr Jim Cunningham: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development, what contingency plans her Department has made for a British national contracting Ebola when carrying out humanitarian work in West Africa.

Justine Greening: The UK is building a 12 bed facility in Sierra Leone to treat health workers, including British nationals, who contract Ebola, providing a UK comparable level of Ebola care. In line with medical advice, we will also provide medical evacuation for all British nationals in the countries affected should they become infected with Ebola.

Department for Education

Class Sizes

Michael Dugher: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, how many (a) primary and (b) secondary schools in (i) Barnsley East constituency, (ii) South Yorkshire and (iii) England had classes of (A) 31 to 35, (B) 36-39, (C) 40 to 49, (D) 50 to 59, (E) 60 to 69 and (F) more than 70 pupils in each of the last five years.

Mr David Laws: The available information on class sizes is shown in the table attached. To provide a more detailed breakdown of class sizes would incur disproportionate costs.The latest published data on class sizes can be accessed at: www.gov.uk/government/statistics/schools-pupils-and-their-characteristics-january-2014Legislation imposes a limit of 30 pupils per school teacher on infant classes. Regulations permit this limit to be exceeded in certain limited circumstances, for example, to admit the child of UK service personnel, or a looked after or previously looked after child, outside the normal admissions round. There is no statutory limit on class sizes for the junior and secondary phases of education. It is probable that some of the large class sizes reported above relate to times of day such as assembly when children were legitimately in groups of more than 30 and the Department for Education is working with schools and local authorities to better understand this. 



Primary and secondary class sizes
(Excel SpreadSheet, 24.22 KB)

Teachers: Training

Kevin Brennan: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, pursuant to the Answer of 1 September 2014 to Question 206928, if she will publish the number of places (a) required by the teacher supply model and (b) allocated through the allocations for each subject in 2014-15.

Mr David Laws: The Department for Education has published its estimates of the number of trainees required, alongside the initial allocation and the final allocation of initial teacher training places for the 2014/15 academic year. This is available at: www.gov.uk/government/statistics/initial-teacher-training-allocations-for-academic-year-2014-to-2015 In addition, we have this year published our Teacher Supply Model in full. This is available at: www.gov.uk/government/publications/teacher-supply-model

Armed Forces: Education

Alex Cunningham: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, how many local authority controlled (a) primary and (b) secondary schools in the UK will receive new resources for informing and educating schoolchildren and teachers about the work of the armed forces; and if she will make a statement.

Mr David Laws: The latest termly email to schools, including to local authority controlled schools, sent in September included information about the new British Armed Forces Learning Resource 2014 and a link to the online version of the resource.[1] The resource aims to help teachers introduce students to the work of the Armed Forces in Britain and abroad, exploring their role, history, current operations and what it is like to work as part of the Royal Navy, British Army and Royal Air Force. It includes background information, views and different perspectives from many longstanding members of the Armed Forces and includes lesson ideas, areas for discussion and links to other publications and information. We often highlight free resources but believe that schools are best placed to decide which materials they wish to use.[1] www.armedforceslearningresources.co.uk

Armed Forces: Education

Alex Cunningham: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, how new resources for informing and educating schoolchildren and teachers about the work of the armed forces are distributed to schools; and if she will make a statement.

Mr David Laws: The latest termly email to schools sent in September included information about the new British Armed Forces Learning Resource 2014 and a link to the online version of the resource.[1] The Department for Education has not published a hard copy of the resource and has not sent it to any schools. The resource aims to help teachers introduce students to the work of the Armed Forces in Britain and abroad, exploring their role, history, current operations and what it is like to work as part of the Royal Navy, British Army and Royal Air Force. It includes background information, views and different perspectives from many longstanding members of the Armed Forces and includes lesson ideas, areas for discussion and links to other publications and information. We often highlight free resources but believe that schools are best placed to decide which materials they wish to use.[1] www.armedforceslearningresources.co.uk

Armed Forces: Education

Alex Cunningham: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what discussions her Department had with the teaching profession about new resources for informing and educating schoolchildren and teachers about the work of the armed forces.

Mr David Laws: The Department for Education has not had specific discussions with representatives of the teaching profession about the British Armed Forces Learning Resource 2014.[1] The Department often highlights free resources but believes that schools are best placed to decide what materials they wish to use.The latest termly email to schools sent in September included information about the new British Armed Forces Learning Resource and a link to the website that hosts it. The resource aims to help teachers introduce students to the work of the Armed Forces in Britain and abroad, exploring their role, history, current operations and what it is like to work as part of the Royal Navy, British Army and Royal Air Force.[1] www.armedforceslearningresources.co.uk

Armed Forces: Education

Alex Cunningham: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, how many non-local authority controlled (a) primary and (b) secondary schools in the UK will receive copies of the British Armed Forces Learning Resource 2014.

Mr David Laws: The latest termly email to schools, including non-local authority controlled schools, sent in September included information about the new British Armed Forces Learning Resource 2014 and a link to the online version of the resource.[1] The Department for Education has not published a hard copy of the resource.[1] www.armedforceslearningresources.co.uk

Armed Forces: Education

Alex Cunningham: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what costs her Department will incurr for the (a) printing, (b) distribution and (c) promotion of the British Armed Forces Learning Resource 2014.

Mr David Laws: The Department for Education has not published or distributed a hard copy of the resource and has therefore not incurred any printing or distribution costs. The latest termly email to schools sent in September included information about the new British Armed Forces Learning Resource 2014 and a link to the online version of the resource.[1] The Department often highlights free resources and the costs associated with including this particular link in the regular termly email are negligible.[1] www.armedforceslearningresources.co.uk

Private Finance Initiative

Simon Kirby: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what the total private finance initiative liabilities of her Department are for the next 20 years; and if she will make a statement.

Mr Nick Gibb: The Department for Education sponsors local authority projects through the private finance initiative (PFI) credit system and is paying revenue support grant. It also contributes revenue support towards Voluntary Aided school PFI schemes. However, these are not the Department’s liabilities. Details of these projects are available online at:www.gov.uk/government/publications/private-finance-initiative-projects-2013-summary-data. This currently provides information as at 31 March 2013 but will be updated shortly with data as at 31 March 2014.

IGCSE

Karl McCartney: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what estimate she has made of the cost of replacing textbooks and other course materials that schools need to buy as a result of the decision to remove iGCSEs from school league tables.

Mr Nick Gibb: Our intention to work with awarding organisations to develop a process for reforming Level 1 and 2 qualifications for inclusion in performance tables from 2018 was announced on 24 July. In considering which qualifications to offer, schools will need to take account of resources and costs and the impact this will have on school budgets. It is not possible to estimate the cost in advance of any decisions being made on Level 1 and 2 qualifications being included in performance tables.

Mobile Phones

Jim Shannon: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what steps she is taking to reduce sexting.

Mr Nick Gibb: The safety of children online is a priority for the Government. As part of the new programmes of study for computing, e-safety will be taught at all four key stages. The programmes of study cover responsible, respectful and secure use of technology. They will also ensure that pupils are taught age-appropriate ways of reporting any concerns they may have about what they see or encounter online. There is progression in the content across the key stages to reflect the different and escalating risks that young people face as they get older; initially relating to online content, then to the conduct of, and contact with, other people online. Pupils can also be taught about this topic as part of Sex and Relationship Education (SRE). The PSHE Association, Brook and the Sex Education Forum have produced supplementary guidance for schools to help them to teach SRE; this advice covers ‘sexting’, including explaining the law and pointing teachers towards further resources.  The Child Exploitation and Online Protection Centre (CEOP) has an important role to play. As a UK law enforcement body it can apply the full range of policing powers in tackling the sexual abuse of children. CEOP has also developed a specific educational resource to tackle ‘sexting’, which is designed for use by teachers, parents and young people.

Financial Services: Education

Mr Mike Hancock: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what assessment she has made of the link between financial education in schools and sustainable and responsible investment practices.

Mr Nick Gibb: While we have not made a formal assessment of the link between financial education and sustainable and responsible investment practices, our decision that personal financial education should be included in the citizenship national curriculum for key stage 3 and 4 is designed to help pupils manage their money. OECD research concluded that the new national curriculum meets all of the building blocks they recommend for a sound financial education in schools. Through this aspect of the curriculum pupils should develop their knowledge and skills so they can make sound financial decisions and take their place in society as responsible citizens. At key stage 3, pupils should be taught about the functions and uses of money, the importance and practice of budgeting, and managing risk. At key stage 4, pupils should be taught about income and expenditure, credit and debt, insurance, savings and pensions, financial products and services, and how public money is raised and spent.

Academies

Kevin Brennan: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, whether her Department requires charities, non-charitable companies and individuals who control appointments to academy trusts to produce succession plans in the event of the closure of that charity or company or the death of the individual sponsor.

Mr Nick Gibb: The Department for Education places no specific requirements on trusts to produce succession plans. Members and trustees are expected to act in the best interests of the trust, which would include where appropriate plans to ensure the continuation of effective governance.

Academies

Kevin Brennan: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, whether it is her policy to approve articles of association for academy trusts which provide for a single sponsor to appoint all company members other than company members appointed by her.

Mr Nick Gibb: The articles of association for an academy trust need to ensure that the trust has strong and effective governance, which may include arrangements where a single sponsor appoints all the company members.

Academies

Kevin Brennan: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, on how many academy trusts are all company members, other than those appointed by her, a single sponsor.

Mr Nick Gibb: The Department for Education does not hold statistics on which academy trusts have all company members appointed by a single sponsor. The model articles of association for academies require at least three members. The members could all be appointed by the sponsor of the academy trust.

Academies

Kevin Brennan: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, how many academy trust articles of association provide for a quorum of one director to conduct business when there are only three directors in post.

Mr Nick Gibb: The model articles of association for academy trusts require a minimum of three directors to be present to be quorate. The Department does not hold centrally statistics on which academy trusts’ articles provide for a quorum of less than three.

Home Education

Mr Barry Sheerman: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, if she will make it her policy to collect information on the (a) number, (b) religion and (c) ethnicity of children being homeschooled in England.

Mr Nick Gibb: There are no current plans to collect personal information on children receiving elective home education. The Department for Education is aware, however, of some concerns amongst local authorities about the information they have on such children in their areas. We have recently begun discussions with a range of representative bodies about these concerns and other home education issues, especially in relation to safeguarding

Teachers: Bureaucracy

Mr Nicholas Brown: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what recent assessment she has made of teacher workloads.

Mr Nick Gibb: Recent assessments of teacher workloads have been made from the 2013 Teaching and Learning International Survey (TALIS) and the 2013 Teachers’ Workload Diary Survey. The key finding from TALIS is that teachers in England work a 46 hour week in term time on average compared with the international average of 38 hours. The 2013 workload diary survey showed an increase in the average total hours recorded as worked by classroom teachers. We are working closely with teachers and the unions to reduce the burden of unnecessary workload so that they spend more time in the classroom teaching.

Priority School Building Programme

Richard Burden: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what criteria her Department has used to decide which schools will receive Priority School Building Programme funding.

Mr David Laws: We have completed a comprehensive Property Data Survey of the school estate. We will use information from that survey, together with information regarding any significant structural or asbestos related issues included within schools’ expressions of interest, to prioritise schools or individual buildings for inclusion in the second phase of the Priority School Building Programme.

School Meals

Andrew Rosindell: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what guidance her Department issues to kitchen staff in schools on steps to prevent food-related illnesses.

Mr David Laws: The Department for Education does not issue guidance to kitchen staff in schools on steps to prevent food related illnesses. The Food Standards Agency is responsible for food safety and hygiene across the UK.

Schools: Nuneaton

Mr Marcus Jones: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, how much schools in Nuneaton constituency received under the pupil premium in 2013-14; and how much such schools will receive in pupil premium in 2014-15.

Mr David Laws: Schools and academies in Nuneaton constituency have been allocated £3.181 million through the pupil premium for financial year 2013 to 2014, and £4.004 million for financial year 2014 to 2015.This includes funding through the deprivation and service child elements of the pupil premium for financial year 2013 to 2014, and also the children adopted from care element for financial year 2014 to 2015. It excludes the looked-after children element in both years as this is not available at a parliamentary constituency level.

Schools: Buildings

Richard Burden: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, when her Department plans to publish its detailed condition survey of schools in England.

Mr David Laws: The Property Data Survey Programme, which carried out high-level condition surveys of the school estate in England, completed its last survey in July 2014. To ensure that the data is sufficiently robust before it is put to any further use, I asked officials to share the data that we had gathered with schools and responsible bodies and rectify any significant variances in the dataset.The deadline for feedback from schools and responsible bodies has recently passed and officials are considering where the survey information needs to be updated. Once this is completed, the Department will give further consideration to the future publication of the data.

Torbay

Mr Adrian Sanders: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, how many visits were made by Ministers of her Department to Torbay constituency in the 12 months to 14 October 2014; whom the invitation for each such visit was issued by; and what the cost to the public purse was of each such visit.

Mr Nick Gibb: I visited Torbay constituency on 17 July 2014, at the invitation of my hon. Friend, the Member for Newton Abbot, Anne Marie Morris. The visit was part of a wider trip to schools in Devon which cost £427.82 in total.

Schools: Finance

Mr Laurence Robertson: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what recent progress she has made towards the introduction of a national funding formula for schools; and if she will make a statement.

Mr David Laws: On 17 July, I announced that the Department for Education will allocate £390 million to the least fairly funded local areas in 2015-16. This is the biggest step towards fairer schools funding in a decade. It puts us in a much better position to implement a national funding formula when the time is right – after the next spending review, when there are multi-year public spending plans, and the Department can give greater certainty to schools about how the formula will affect them.

Academies

Kevin Brennan: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, pursuant to the Answer of 8 July 2014 to Question 204028, how many requests for directions to admit a child to an academy the Education Funding Agency has received from councils; and how many such directions were issued in the last four years.

Mr Nick Gibb: The Education Funding Agency was created on 1 April 2012. Since then, it has received 76 requests for directions to admit a child to an academy from councils. Formal directions to admit were issued in five of these cases.

Local Safeguarding Children Boards

Tim Loughton: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, who is responsible for monitoring the effectiveness of local safeguarding children boards' child sexual exploitation action plans.

Tim Loughton: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, who is responsible for monitoring the effectiveness of child sexual exploitation action plans by local safeguarding children's boards.

Tim Loughton: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, which local safeguarding children's boards have failed inspections on their child sexual exploitation action plans.

Mr Edward Timpson: Ofsted undertakes a review of each local safeguarding children’s board (LSCB) at the same time as they undertake their inspection of local authorities’ services for children in need of help and protection and looked after children. Neither the review nor the inspection makes specific judgements about the sexual exploitation of children or the effectiveness of the local child sexual exploitation action plans. However, inspectors are required to include in the cases they evaluate “children at risk of harm from physical, emotional and sexual abuse and neglect; inspectors will also want to identify those children and young people where the local authority have concerns that they may be vulnerable to child sexual exploitation and those children and young people who have been missing from care, home and education”. In undertaking the LSCB review inspectors are required to “evaluate the quality and impact of the policies and procedures produced by the LSCB, such as the local thresholds document and the child sexual exploitation action plan.” An LSCB’s response to child sexual exploitation is considered as part of the overall judgement on the performance of the LSCB. Seven LSCBs of the 331 inspected since the new framework came into being in November 2013 have been found to be inadequate.

Mr Edward Timpson: Ofsted undertakes a review of each local safeguarding children’s board (LSCB) at the same time as they undertake their inspection of local authorities’ services for children in need of help and protection and looked after children. Neither the review nor the inspection makes specific judgements about the sexual exploitation of children or the effectiveness of the local child sexual exploitation action plans. However, inspectors are required to include in the cases they evaluate “children at risk of harm from physical, emotional and sexual abuse and neglect; inspectors will also want to identify those children and young people where the local authority have concerns that they may be vulnerable to child sexual exploitation and those children and young people who have been missing from care, home and education”. In undertaking the LSCB review inspectors are required to “evaluate the quality and impact of the policies and procedures produced by the LSCB, such as the local thresholds document and the child sexual exploitation action plan.” An LSCB’s response to child sexual exploitation is considered as part of the overall judgement on the performance of the LSCB. Seven LSCBs of the 331 inspected since the new framework came into being in November 2013 have been found to be inadequate.

Ministry of Justice

Mass Media: Subscriptions

Mr Andy Slaughter: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, what subscriptions to (a) magazines and (b) television channels his Department funds.

Mr Shailesh Vara: In response to Part A of the question “what magazine subscriptions his Department funds”. The Department has no contracted provision to supply general magazines. In response to Part B of the Question “what television channels his department funds”. The National Offender Management Service funded The Life Channel in a limited number of Prisons in 2013/2014. This service provides broadcast programming that is aimed at reducing reoffending and cascading general health information to prisoners and visitors.

National Probation Service for England and Wales

Sadiq Khan: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, how many (a) permanent full-time, (b) temporary full-time and (c) agency staff have been recruited by each National Probation Service Division since 1 June 2014.

Sadiq Khan: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, how many (a) permanent full-time staff, (b) temporary full-time staff, (c) part-time staff, (d) agency staff and (e) consultants have been recruited by the National Probation Service headquarters since 1 June 2014.

Sadiq Khan: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, how many (a) permanent, (b) temporary, (c) agency staff and (d) consultants there were at the headquarters of the National Probation Service on 1 June 2014.

Sadiq Khan: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, how many (a) permanent, (b) temporary and (c) agency staff there were in each division of the National Probation Service on 1 June 2014.

Andrew Selous: The number of permanently employed, temporarily employed and staff employed through an agency in the National Probation Service (NPS) working in the National Offender Management Service (NOMS) as at 30 June 2014 (the date of the first published NPS staffing information) can be found in the table below. Table: Number of Full Time Equivalent (FTE) Permanent, Temporary and Agency National Probation Service in NOMS as at 30 June 2014 DivisionPermanentTemporaryAgency*TotalLondon Probation Service1,19040~1,230Midlands Probation Service1,46010~1,470North East Probation Service1,52010101,540North West Probation Service1,21010~1,220South East and Eastern Probation Service1,22010101,240South West and South Central Probation Service1,07020~1,090Wales Probation Service4901010500Total8,1601101108,390*Information as at 1 JuneNote: Figures are rounded to the nearest 10 in line with the department’s policy for presenting staffing data. Totals are formed from unrounded parts prior to rounding. For this reason, totals may not equal the sum of their rounded parts.The symbol ~ represents 5 or fewer. The National Probation Service is part of NOMS: it has no separate headquarters. NOMS headquarters includes NPS staff based there as well as other NOMS staff who provide central support for the NPS. It therefore follows that there were no staff in post or recruits into the NPS headquarters. Between the 1 June and 30 June 2014, the date of the latest published figures, the number of permanent or temporary staff recruited to the NPS, including any central functions relating to the NPS was five or fewer. In the same period 20 agency staff began working in the operational functions of the NPS. The NPS and CRCs were resourced to deliver their core duties at the point of transfer to the new structures and will maintain necessary levels through workforce planning to meet future staffing needs.

Courts: Sunderland

Bridget Phillipson: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, whether the court reform programme has considered the case for improvement work at Sunderland Court.

Mr Shailesh Vara: HM Courts & Tribunals Service keeps its estate under review to ensure that it meets operational requirements. Any estate decisions, including new investment proposals, will be part of the wider considerations of HMCTS Reform and no decisions have been taken regarding the site in Sunderland.

Courts: Buildings

Bridget Phillipson: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, what the capital building budget is for the court reform programme.

Mr Shailesh Vara: The Treasury has agreed a one-off package of investment averaging up to £75m per annum over the five years from 2015/16 which will be used to deliver more efficient and effective courts and tribunal’s administration for all users and deliver significant savings. Detailed planning is currently being undertaken on how the Treasury funds will be deployed between investment in the courts and tribunals estate, technology and other areas.

Burges Salmon Solicitors

Chris Ruane: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, with reference to the Answer of 19 January 2010 to Question 311921, what recent reports he has received about the progress of the Solicitors Regulation Authority investigation into Burges Salmon LLP.

Mr Shailesh Vara: The legal profession is independent of Government and is regulated by approved regulators for which the Legal Services Board (LSB) has oversight responsibility. Complaints about the professional misconduct of solicitors are a matter for the Solicitors Regulation Authority (SRA). As such, I cannot comment on individual cases. I am informed that the SRA concluded its investigations in this matter in 2010 and subsequently published its findings.

Guildford Four

Ms Margaret Ritchie: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, what recent discussions he has had with the Home Secretary and the Secretary of State for Defence on the embargo on Government-held files relating to the Guildford Four.

Simon Hughes: No such discussions have taken place.

Powers of Attorney

Jon Trickett: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, what procedures are in place for power of attorney to be removed from a person who has abused that power; and what procedures there are for people to complain about someone who has joint power of attorney who may be abusing the fund.

Jon Trickett: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, if he will assess the merits of the court system assuming responsibility for reviewing power of attorney judgements.

Jon Trickett: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, if he will assess the merits of requiring people applying for power of attorney to attend court and swear on oath to uphold power of attorney conditions.

Jon Trickett: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, what safeguards are in place to prevent misuse of funds when a (a) single and (b) joint power of attorney is obtained.

Simon Hughes: The Government is committed to protecting elderly and vulnerable people, and to making sure that anyone responsible for abuse is dealt with appropriately.The Public Guardian has power to investigate cases where concerns are raised about the actions of a person or persons acting under a registered power of attorney, and to apply to the Court to revoke the power of attorney where necessary to prevent abuse. The Public Guardian can also refer cases to health and care authorities, who can act under statutory safeguarding powers to protect an individual who may be at risk, and to the police if he suspects a criminal offence has been committed.Anyone who suspects that someone acting under a registered power of attorney is abusing that position should report any suspicion of abuse immediately to the Office of the Public Guardian by:Email OPG.Safeguardingunit@publicguardian.gsi.gov.uk. orTelephone: 0300 456 0300A power of attorney is a private arrangement where the donor chooses who they wish to appoint and therefore the Government feels that State intervention in this process should be limited. The Lasting Power of Attorney (LPA) application process has been designed so that anyone can complete and register an LPA without the need for professional advice, though with significant safeguards (such as the need for a certificate provider to confirm that the donor has capacity and is not under duress) to cut down on fraud and abuse.LPAs also have to be registered prior to use, which is a change from previous Enduring Powers of Attorney which only had to be registered when the donor lost capacity. In the year 2013/14, the Office of the Public Guardian registered 311,000 powers of attorney.Requiring individuals to attend court to swear an oath would place a significant strain on court resources (as there is often more than one attorney for each power) and is likely to mean that individuals will feel that they need legal advice to assist them, which would incur legal fees. There might also be an increase in the cost of registering a power to cover the Court cost, which may lead to people not making LPAs, and therefore not being able to make provision for the future.Under sections 22 and 23 of the Mental Capacity Act, the Court of Protection has wide-ranging powers to decide on issues relating to the operation or validity of an LPA.

Legal Aid Scheme

Angela Smith: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, what average hourly rate is paid to (a) external solicitors and (b) Treasury Solicitor staff working on developing the residence test for legal aid.

Angela Smith: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, how many hours have been spent by (a) external solicitors, (b) external barristers, (c) Treasury Solicitor staff and (d) Treasury Counsel engaged by his Department for advice on the legal aid residence test policy.

Angela Smith: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, how much in total has been paid to (a) each external solicitor, (b) each external barrister, (c) Treasury Solicitor staff and (d) Treasury Counsel engaged by his Department for advice on the policy development of the legal aid residence test.

Mr Shailesh Vara: Legal aid is a fundamental part of our justice system, but resources are not limitless. Legal aid is paid for by the taxpayer and at all times we must strive to ensure that public confidence is maintained in the system.We believe that in principle, individuals should have a strong connection to the UK in order to benefit from the civil legal aid scheme. We have therefore proposed to introduce a residence test for civil legal aid requiring applicants to be lawfully resident in the UK, Crown Dependencies or British Overseas Territories at the time they apply for civil legal aid and have resided there lawfully for at least 12 continuous months in the past.The civil legal aid residence test is part of the Legal Aid Transformation Programme, which consists of a number of work-streams.In April 2014, the Department’s Legal Directorate was absorbed by the Treasury Solicitor’s Department. There is no record of the hours spent by Treasury Solicitor staff in the Legal Directorate advising on the legal aid residence test policy. Treasury Solicitor staff in the Department’s Legal Directorate do not record the time spent on advising on developing the residence test for legal aid or charge the Department an hourly rate for work undertaken. The Department has not engaged any Treasury Solicitor staff on developing the policy on the residence test beyond those employed within the Department’s Legal Directorate. No external barristers (other than Treasury Counsel) or external solicitors were engaged by the Department on developing the residence test for legal aid. It is not possible to separate work carried out by Treasury Counsel on the development of the policy of the residence test as one work-stream from the wider programme or from the litigation relating to the policy.

Personal Independence Payment: Appeals

Jon Trickett: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, what the processing times are for an appeal where an individual is contesting a personal independence payment decision from the start of the appeal to its conclusion.

Mr Shailesh Vara: The First-tier Tribunal (Social Security and Child Support), administered by HM Courts & Tribunals Service (HMCTS), hears appeals against Department for Work and Pensions’ decisions on a range of benefits, including a person’s entitlement to Personal Independence Payment (PIP).In the period 1 April 2014 to 30 June 2014 (the latest period for which data has been published) the average waiting time from receipt of a PIP appeal at the Tribunal to disposal was 14 weeks. This compares with an average processing time for all Social Security and Child Support appeals of 20 weeks in 2013/14.

Children: Maintenance

Mr Frank Field: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, how many maintenance orders made in Spain for enforcement in the UK have not been enforced in the last five years; and for what periods such orders apply.

Simon Hughes: The Ministry of Justice does not collect this information.

Prisoner Escapes

Stephen Doughty: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, how many prisoners in each security category are missing, having absconded from each prison in England and Wales.

Stephen Doughty: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, how many prisoners are missing, having absconded from prisons in England and Wales, by offence type.

Andrew Selous: Absconds have reached record lows - down 80% over the last 10 years - but each incident is taken seriously, with the police contacted as a matter of urgency. Over 97% of prisoners who abscond are re-captured and returned to custody. Re-captured absconders will be returned to a more secure closed prison where they face either a criminal prosecution for absconding or an internal adjudication in prison in front of a visiting judge. In both cases they can receive additional time in prison. The tables below provide details of the security category and offence type of those absconders who are currently unlawfully at large having absconded between April 2004 and March 2014 (the most recent period that statistics are available). Information prior to April 2004 could only be collated by performing manual checks across different databases and could only be achieved at disproportionate cost. Table1: Security category of absconders unlawfully at large from April 2004 to March 2014, as on 14 October 2014Current Security CategoryNumber of abscondersCat C11Cat D72Female Open4Immigration detainee 27 Table2: Offence type of absconders unlawfully at large from April 2004 to March 2014, as on 14 October 2014 Offence TypeNumber of abscondersViolence against the person11Sexual Offences1Robbery5Burglary10Theft & Handling8Fraud & Forgery14Drug Offences19Motoring offences1Other offences7Held for Immigration Purposes 28  1 One Category C prisoner absconded from an accompanied absence whilst out of the Cat C prison.2 Tables include absconds of immigration detainees from establishments operated as Immigration Removal Centres by NOMS under contract to the Home Office (one immigration detainee held in a Category D prison has been included as a Category D absconder in Table 1). These figures have been drawn from live administrative data systems which may be amended at any time. Although care is taken when processing and analysing the returns, the detail collected is subject to the inaccuracies inherent in any large scale recording system.

Mass Media: Privacy

Helen Goodman: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, whether his Department (a) has made or (b) plans to make any policy changes in response to the decisions in Weller vs. Associated News in 2014.

Mr Shailesh Vara: The case of Weller v Associated Newspapers Ltd [2014] EWHC 1163 was a civil action in relation to the tort of misuse of private information as it applies to children. As the case illustrates, it is already possible for a civil action to be brought to protect the privacy of children. The remedies available include damages for the breach of privacy and an injunction to prevent any further publication. The Government has no plans to change the law in this area.

Matrimonial Property

Mr Jonathan Djanogly: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, when his Department plans to provide an initial response to the Law Commission's report, Matrimonial Property, Needs and Agreements, published in March 2014.

Simon Hughes: In line with the terms of the protocol we have with the Law Commission, I submitted my preliminary views on the recommendations in the report to the Law Commissioner in March. In September 2014 the Government proposed to the Law Commission that a final response should be given in the next Parliament. This will allow the next Government to give the proposals full consideration without the current pressures on Parliamentary time. The Family Justice Council is also carrying out further work to clarify the meaning of ‘financial need’ in divorce cases. This will include the Council producing guidance for separating couples to help them understand the likely outcomes of their case. We expect this to be completed by the end of the year

Secure Colleges

Dan Jarvis: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, what criteria will be used to award the education contract for the Secure College; and if he will publish those criteria.

Andrew Selous: Secure Colleges will be a pioneering approach to youth custody, with education at the centre. By moving away from the traditional environment of bars on windows and giving these young people skills, qualifications and self-discipline we can help them turn their back on crime and become productive members of society. Education provision will form part of the overall operational contract for the Secure College. The Ministry of Justice expects providers to put forward innovative solutions that address the individual needs of young people in the Secure College. The criteria for awarding the operational contract are in development and there are no plans to publish the criteria.

Office of the Public Guardian

Jon Trickett: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, what recent assessment he has made of the effectiveness of the Office of the Public Guardian.

Simon Hughes: The Office of the Public Guardian (OPG) is an Executive Agency of the Ministry of Justice and is subject to regular meetings with me to review its effectiveness. The last meeting took place in June 2014. I am satisfied that the OPG is performing effectively. During 2013/14 they introduced an online tool for making lasting powers of attorney (LPA), reduced the statutory waiting and objection periods for LPA and, by introducing end-to-end case management, have streamlined the way in which they process applications. They have also reviewed and improved their regime for supervising court appointed deputies. The number of complaints received in 2013/14 reduced significantly to 3,549, compared with 11,617 complaints received in 2012/13 and 14,814 in 2011/12, despite a significant increase in caseloads across the OPG. The OPG is not complacent and has undertaken work to enable them to compare complaints by type, yielding more information about trends to help them address the issues and concerns raised by their customers. Details of the OPG’s performance are published in their annual report which can be found at: http://www.justice.gov.uk/downloads/publications/corporate-reports/OPG/opg-annual-report-accounts-2013-14.pdf Copies of the annual account and the OPG Framework document which sets out the arrangements for governance and accountability, have already been placed in the Library.

National Offender Management Service

Mr Ben Bradshaw: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, how much NOMS has spent on subsidising its retail canteen service contract in each year since 2010.

Andrew Selous: I refer the hon. Member to a previous answer of 4 September 2014 to question 207330, Official Report, column 316W.  http://www.publications.parliament.uk/pa/cm201415/cmhansrd/cm140904/text/140904w0001.htm#14090443000651

Open Prisons

Mr Ben Bradshaw: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, how many prisoners with determinate sentences with more than two years to serve until their earliest release date were moved to open prisons in (a) 2013-14, (b) 2012-13 and (c) 2011-12.

Andrew Selous: I refer the hon Member to the reply I gave, the Member for Exeter on 4 September 2014, Official report, column 319W.

Stalking

Mr Elfyn Llwyd: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, whether he plans to issue revised sentencing guidelines in respect of new stalking offences.

Mike Penning: Sentencing guidelines are issued by the independent Sentencing Council.

Stalking

Helen Goodman: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, whether his Department plans to issue revised sentencing guidelines in respect of new offences of stalking.

Mike Penning: Sentencing guidelines are issued by the independent Sentencing Council.

Nitrous Oxide

Mr David Hanson: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, how many convictions there have been for sales of nitrous oxide under the Intoxicating Substances (Supply) Act 1985 in the last three years.

Andrew Selous: The number of offenders found guilty at all courts of sales of nitrous oxide under the Intoxicating Substances (Supply) Act 1985, in England and Wales, from 2011 to 2013 can be viewed in the table.



Offences for sales of nitrous oxide to under 18s
(Excel SpreadSheet, 17.5 KB)

Bill of Rights Commission

Mr Andy Slaughter: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, what the cost to the public purse was of the Commission on a Bill of Rights.

Simon Hughes: The cost of the Commission on a Bill of Rights from its establishment in March 2011, to its final report in December 2012 was approximately £700,000. This figure is also quoted on pg 39 of its final report which is publicly available at http://www.justice.gov.uk/about/cbr

Licensing Act 2003

Diana Johnson: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, pursuant to the Answer of 14 October 2014 to Question 209021, what the total amount was raised from fines levied following convictions under the Licensing Act 2003 in each of the last four years.

Mike Penning: It is not possible to identify how much has been raised from fines imposed for convictions under the Licensing Act 2003, as the Ministry of Justice does not hold this information. This is because fine enforcement and collection occurs at individual local centres, with separate accounts set-up for each offender into which are paid consolidated penalty requirements (for example, compensation, victim surcharges and fines). It is therefore not possible to disaggregate these amounts by offence and payment type.

Ministry of Defence

War Widows: Pensions

Chris Williamson: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, if the Government will change regulations to provide a war widow's pension for life for those who were awarded war widows' pensions between 31 March 1973 and 5 April 2005.

Anna Soubry: There are no current plans to amend the War Pensions Scheme. We are currently considering the representations that have been made to us including by the Royal British Legion and the War Widows' Association.

Iraq

Angus Robertson: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what UK armed forces assets and personnel are stationed in Iraq.

Mr Mark Francois: The UK has a small Defence section working in the British Embassy in Baghdad. This permanent presence is currently supplemented by around 20 personnel acting in support of operations against ISIL terrorists. These personnel are performing a range of roles including: supporting humanitarian operations, providing training to Kurdish forces and supporting coalition planning activities. The UK currently has no major military assets based in Iraq.

Defence Infrastructure Organisation

Stephen Doughty: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, how many applications for eviction notices have been made by the Defence Infrastructure Organisation in the last 12 months; and how many eviction notices were served on tenants by that body in that period.

Stephen Doughty: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, for what reasons eviction notices have been served by the Defence Infrastructure Organisation in the last 12 months.

Stephen Doughty: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what the guideline notice period is for any tenant served an eviction notice by the Defence Infrastructure Organisation of the date on which the property must be vacated.

Anna Soubry: The Ministry of Defence (MOD) provides accommodation to Service personnel and their families as part of their terms and conditions of Service. Individuals cease to be entitled to occupy Service Accommodation when they leave the Services. If necessary, the MOD take action to recover possession of such property. The level of notice to be given in each case is set out in the Tri-Service Accommodation Regulations, published as Joint Service Publication 464. In most cases, individuals are entitled to 93 days notice to vacate. However, in some circumstances, including medical discharges and compulsory redundancies, this entitlement can be extended by a further 93 days. The shortest entitlement for personnel dismissed for disciplinary or misconduct reasons is 28 days.In the last twelve months, the MOD has applied for eviction orders in 20 cases. All eviction notices were served when unentitled occupants were still resident in the property.

Reserve Forces

Bob Stewart: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what plans he has to reintroduce the Territorial Decoration for Reserve Army officers.

Mr Julian Brazier: On 1 October 2014 the Secretary of State for Defence announced that he would like to see a Reserve Long Service medal that allows the use of post-nominals for all ranks. He has asked officials to investigate options to deliver this under the current UK Honours and Awards system, with an instruction to report back to him by the end of the year. I can confirm that this work is under way.

Private Finance Initiative

Simon Kirby: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what the total private finance initiative liabilities of his Department are for the next 20 years; and if he will make a statement.

Mr Philip Dunne: The total Private Finance Initiative (PFI) liability for the Ministry of Defence (MOD) over the next 20 years is £29.4 billion. The table shows the forecast annual payment (the unitary charge) due for all current MOD PFI contracts. Year Estimated unitary charge (£ billion)2014-15 (part year) 0.9742015-16 1.8372016-17 1.6642017-18 1.6662018-19 1.6922019-20 1.7262020-21 1.7452021-22 1.7272022-23 1.5902023-24 1.4032024-25 1.4092025-26 1.3672026-27 1.4052027-28 1.4072028-29 1.4242029-30 1.3562030-31 1.2572031-32 1.2242032-33 1.1972033-34 0.8892034-35 (part year) 0.440The current MOD PFI portfolio covers 41 projects, including the Strategic Sealift Roll-on Roll-off Ferry and Heavy Equipment Transporter logistics vehicle, which directly support the front line. PFI arrangements are also used for a range of accommodation and infrastructure projects.

European Fighter Aircraft

Angus Robertson: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what the current service life in flight hours is of Typhoon aircraft.

Mr Philip Dunne: The Ministry of Defence has indicated that it will not be possible to answer this question within the usual time period. An answer is being prepared and will be provided as soon as it is available.

Navy: Military Bases

Angus Robertson: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, how much will be spent in each location under the Maritime Support and Delivery Framework with Babcock in each of the next six years.

Angus Robertson: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, how much will be spent in each location in the Maritime Support and Delivery Framework with BAE Systems in each of the next five years.

Mr Philip Dunne: The predicted spend profile (in £ millions) on the Maritime Support Delivery Framework contracts is shown in the table. The contracts provide flexibility within the overall totals to adjust the spend profiles to ensure the support provided is aligned with the needs of the Royal Navy. FINANCIAL YEARS 2014-152015-162016-172017-182018-192019-20TotalBAE SystemsPortsmouth Naval Base80137133120130Note 1601 BabcockClyde Naval Base55113111116117119632Devonport Naval Base1723743593393563811,980Total2274874704564725002,612 Notes 1. The Ministry of Defence has an option to extend the contract with BAE Systems for a further year beyond 2018-19, but support for financial year 2019-20 was not contracted for at the point of contract award on 1 October 2014.

Navy: Military Bases

Angus Robertson: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what contracts the Maritime Support and Delivery Framework replaces; who previously held those contracts; and how much was spent in each such contract in each of the last five years.

Mr Philip Dunne: The Ministry of Defence has indicated that it will not be possible to answer this question within the usual time period. An answer is being prepared and will be provided as soon as it is available.

Patrol Craft

Angus Robertson: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what (a) manned aircraft and (b) unmanned aerial vehicles will be able to land and operate on the Batch 2 Offshore Patrol Vessels.

Angus Robertson: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what 29 design requirements were requested by the Royal Navy for the Batch 2 Offshore Patrol Vessels not in the design of the initial batch of vessels.

Mr Philip Dunne: I believe that the 29 design requirements the Honourable Member refers to are the differences between the Batch 2 Offshore Patrol Vessels (OPVs) and those delivered to the Brazilian Navy, which were not the same design as the initial Batch. The new requirements were:1 Watertight Integrity Modifications2 Fire Safety Modifications3 Enhanced firefighting facilities 4 Automatic Emergency Lights 5 Flight Deck Officer Position6 Domestic refrigeration Modifications7 Sewage Treatment Plant Modifications8 Exhaust System Modifications – (No longer required)9 Ballast Water Modifications10 Merlin helicopter operation11 Helicopter In-Flight Refuelling 12 Helicopter refuelling modifications13 Changes to ship’s minimum operating temperature14 Davit Modifications15 Force Protection Weapon Modifications16 Install WECDIS/WAIS17 Install Combat Management System 18 Military communications modifications19 Magazine Protection20 Radio Equipment Room Modifications21 Change lighting and domestic power voltage from 115v to 230v22 Codification of equipment23 Provision of life saving equipment24 Replace navigation radars 25 Install Military GPS 26 Install flight deck landing grid27 Fuel efficiency monitoring28 Provide emergency communication equipment 29 Machinery Space Walkway The manned aircraft able to use the Royal Navy’s new OPVs are Merlin and Wildcat helicopters. There are no current plans for the operation of unmanned vehicles from these vessels.

Cardiff Airport

David T. C. Davies: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, whether the aircraft landing system at Rhoose Airport, Cardiff, is fully functioning.

David T. C. Davies: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, whether the automatic landing equipment at MoD St Athan is in full working order.

Anna Soubry: I have taken the hon. Member's question to refer to the Ministry of Defence's (MOD) transition work with the Welsh Government initiative for the development of an Air Business Park at MOD St Athan. I understand that the hon. Member's questions refer to the use of an Instrument Landing System at MOD St Athan. The airfield is operated under military regulations, which do not require the use of an Instrument Landing System. The Welsh Government has arranged for the installation of an Instrument Landing System for future use by their commercial customers. I understand that while the equipment is fully operational, it has not yet been cleared for aircraft use. MOD officials have been informed that, pending formal clearance the Welsh Government is applying for a limited clearance to use the Instrument Landing System, in order to facilitate interim use by its commercial customers.

MOD St Athan

David T. C. Davies: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, during what hours MOD St Athan is available for use by private companies.

Anna Soubry: Private companies are afforded the same airfield hours that are available to all users. Currently, while the new airfield contractor completes work-up training, the airfield is available for take-offs and landings from Monday to Friday between 9 am and 5 pm and, with 24 hours notice, on Saturday and Sunday from 9 am to 5 pm. Arrangements to operate outside these hours may be made, subject to manpower availability, by prior request. The Welsh Government's intent is to provide airfield opening hours of 9 am until 5 pm every day of the week, from December 2014.

Army Families Federation

Sir Nicholas Soames: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, when he last met the Armies Families Federation; and what was discussed at that meeting.

Anna Soubry: As the Minister responsible for welfare issues, I met the Chief Executive of the Army Families Federation on 14 October 2014 to discuss Army housing. I will also be speaking about this and a variety of other issues at the Army Families Federation Conference on 21 October.

MOD St Athan

David T. C. Davies: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, how many complaints his Department has received about the use of facilities at MoD St Athan in the last 12 months.

Anna Soubry: The Ministry of Defence (MOD) has received no complaints from airfield users over the use of airfield facilities at MOD St Athan in the last 12 months.

MOD St Athan

David T. C. Davies: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, if he will meet Cardiff Aviation to discuss access to the landing facilities at MoD St Athan.

Anna Soubry: Private companies operating at Ministry of Defence St Athan, such as Cardiff Aviation, are clients of the Welsh Government, with whom their working relationship is conducted. It would therefore not be appropriate for Defence Ministers to meet them.

Military Decorations

Dan Jarvis: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, when the policy on keeping the documentation of failed citations for military honours was last changed; and what the reasons were for that change.

Anna Soubry: It has for many years been the Department's protocol that unsuccessful citations are not retained. It is not possible to ascertain whether, and if so when and under what circumstances, that protocol was last changed.

Bomb Disposal: Northern Ireland

Mr Gregory Campbell: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, on how many occasions bomb disposal units have been deployed to an incident in Northern Ireland in each of the last three years where the incident was more than 40 miles from their usual base.

Mr Mark Francois: I am withholding the information as its disclosure would, or would be likely to, prejudice the capability, effectiveness or security of the Armed Forces as it may assist in the calculation of transit times for teams deploying bomb disposal units.

Defence Equipment

Mrs Madeleine Moon: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what options his Department is considering in seeking agreement on the future delivery of controlled humidity environment capability and related projects; and if he will make a statement.

Mrs Madeleine Moon: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what assessment he has made of the effect on options for the future delivery of controlled humidity environment capability of departmental decisions on land sale at MoD Ashchurch; and if he will make a statement.

Mr Philip Dunne: The Ministry of Defence is considering options for the future controlled humidity environment capability. These options have not been finalised but an assessment study is due to complete in 2015.

DSG Ashchurch

Mrs Madeleine Moon: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what cost for repairing his Department's site at Ashchurch was estimated in the report commissioned by Babcock International dated 3 February 2011.

Mr Philip Dunne: The Ministry of Defence has indicated that it will not be possible to answer this question within the usual time period. An answer is being prepared and will be provided as soon as it is available.

Navy: Recruitment

Steve Rotheram: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, if he will undertake a review of the medical criteria for applying for positions within the Royal Navy to prevent the exclusion of people with (a) autism and (b) ADHD.

Mr Julian Brazier: It is our policy that all Armed Forces personnel should be recruited to be fully fit for deployment worldwide on operations. For this reason, the Services do not recruit personnel with existing medical conditions which may adversely impact on the effectiveness of the Armed Forces, or which may themselves be exacerbated by military circumstances. Whilst those diagnosed with autism are excluded from joining the Services on medical grounds, those individuals suffering mild or entirely non-disabling Asperger’s Syndrome may meet the entry standards following an assessment by an occupational health physician and gaining a favourable assessment after pre-entry tests of suitability for military service. Recruitment may be permitted for those with ADHD where there is no history of violence or delinquent behaviour, there has been a period of more than three years freedom from symptoms and the candidate has been off all treatment for three years prior to application and is functioning normally.The medical entry criteria undergo a rolling programme of revision and that for autism and ADHD have recently been reviewed. Unless new evidence is brought to our attention there is no requirement for a further review at this time.

Department for Work and Pensions

Arts: Employment

Helen Goodman: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what assessment his Department has made of the potential effect of the application of the Minimum Income Floor or In-work Conditionality under universal credit on the ability of workers to sustain careers in the creative industries; and what steps he is taking to ensure that the roll-out of universal credit does not undermine the creative industries.

Esther McVey: The objective of the Minimum Income Floor is to incentivise work and protect the taxpayer against fraud or non-profitable forms of self-employment. Claimants who have the Minimum Income Floor applied, are not required to look or be available for paid employment.Claimants who have started a new business in the last 12 months will qualify for a one year start-up period during which the Minimum Income Floor will not be applied to their claim. This is intended to provide self-employed claimants with the room to grow and establish their business during the start-up period.As Universal Credit rolls out in a careful and controlled way, we will continue our Test and Learn approach to drive continuous improvement of the service ensuring it is built on experience and evidence.Under Universal Credit we will be supporting people in low paid employment to get on in-work. We are committed to testing a variety of approaches to help people to earn more and will use the analysis from these trials to understand the impacts on all industries including the creative industries.

Palliative Care

Mr Clive Betts: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what steps his Department has taken to work with other government departments and local service providers to support better people at the end of life by use of the DS1500 form.

Mr Mark Harper: The DS1500 is used to support claims to a range of benefits from people who have been diagnosed with a terminal illness by a healthcare professional. In line with our aim to continuously improve the service provided to people who are terminally ill, the Department works with a range of stakeholders, including healthcare professionals and support organisations, such as MacMillan Cancer Support, to identify and introduce improvements.

Poverty

Chris Ruane: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what change there has been in the number of people in (a) economic poverty and (b) fuel poverty in each of the last four years.

Esther McVey: For the purposes of responding to this parliamentary question we have interpreted ‘economic poverty’ as the population considered to be in relative and absolute low income both before and after housing costs have been deducted from income. These figures are published in the annual Households Below Average Income report. A copy of the latest report can be found at https://www.gov.uk/government/statistics/households-below-average-income-hbai-199495-to-201213. Data for fuel poverty in England is published online at the following link:https://www.gov.uk/government/collections/fuel-poverty-statistics.

Personal Independence Payment

Jon Trickett: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what assessment he has made of the reasons for the current time being taken to award personal independence payments.

Mr Mark Harper: We keep the time taken to process claims under constant review and are absolutely committed to improving performance. We are already seeing improvements to our processes and will continue to work to further reduce processing times and levels of work outstanding.By the autumn we expect no one to be waiting longer than 26 weeks for an assessment and by the end of the year no longer than 16 weeks, from the point that the Department receives a completed ‘’How Your Disability Affects You’’ form.

Post Office Card Account

Fiona O'Donnell: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, how many Post Office card accounts have been (a) opened and (b) closed in each of the last 10 years.

Steve Webb: Details of the number of Post Office card accounts opened and closed in each of the last 10 years are below:  OpenedClosedOct 04 -Mar 051,154,01238,303Apr 05- Mar 06176,180348,291Apr 06- Mar 07148,422320,478Apr 07 - Mar 08132,322320,922Apr 08 -Mar 09153,431341,879Apr 09 - Sept 0977,677168,861Oct 09 - Mar 1078,692256,177Apr 10 - Mar 11109,573465,574Apr 11 -Mar 12102,683315,729Apr 12- Mar13104,145302,692Apr 13 -Mar 1450,764298,230Apr 14- Sept 1417,995148,520

Private Finance Initiative

Simon Kirby: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what the total private finance initiative liabilities of his Department are for the next 20 years; and if he will make a statement.

Steve Webb: The Department has three current private finance initiative contracts: 1. The Private Sector Resource Initiative for the Management of the Estate (PRIME). A 20 year PFI partnership awarded on 1st April 1998 to Trillium (now Telereal Trillium). PRIME delivered a transfer of property ownership of the DWP estate and outsourced most facilities management services. The PRIME contractor is responsible for all landlord and property related tasks, delivers a total maintenance programme and provides all building related services. 2. Health and Safety Laboratory, Buxton. A 30 year contract awarded on 1st April 2002 to Interserve plc. 3. Health and Safety Executive, New Merseyside Centre, Redgrave Court, Bootle. A 30 year contract awarded on 1st October 2003 to Honeywell Control Systems, supported by Reliance FM as the prime facilities management provider. The remaining financial liabilities for each contract between 2014/15 and its expiry date are: PRIME 2014/15 to 2017/18 £2,074.47mHSL 2014/15 to 2034/5 £278.79mHSE 2014/15 to 2034/5 £244.73m Total £2,597.99m

Employment and Support Allowance

Sheila Gilmore: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, with reference to the Answer to the hon. Member for Edinburgh East of 10 December 2012, Official Report, column 47W, on employment and support allowance, what average time was taken by his Department's decision makers to issue a decision to employment and support allowance claimants following receipt of advice from Atos Healthcare in the most recent year for which data is available.

Mr Mark Harper: The average time between the recommendation made by Atos Healthcare and the decision reached by the Department’s decision maker is 14 days. This refers to all initial decisions made on new Employment and Support Allowance (ESA) claims started in 2013.

Jobseeker's Allowance

Sheila Gilmore: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, pursuant to the Answer of 21 July 2014 to Question 205883, what the full cost, including apportioned indirect costs, is of processing a new claim for jobseeker's allowance; and what the full cost is of a jobseeker's allowance interview.

Esther McVey: Please see table below:  Unit Cost - Total CostsJSA Claims (Incl LMDM)£ 27.16(WS) JSA NJI Advice£ 46.48 The cost of processing a New Claim for Jobseekers’ Allowance is provided in JSA Claims. We have provided the unit costs for 13/14. The Unit Cost is the average cost of one JSA Claim through the process. For the costs of a jobseekers' allowance interview, we have provided the New Jobseekers’ interview Unit cost for 13/14 under JSA NJI advice. The Unit Cost is the average cost of one New Jobseekers’ interview.

Housing Benefit

Mr David Anderson: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, pursuant to the Answer of 13 October 2014 to Question 209233 for what reason the information is not available.

Steve Webb: The Department for Work and Pensions publishes monitoring returns from local authorities that give a breakdown of Discretionary Housing Payment (DHP) awards by broad category, including to recipients of Housing Benefit subject to Local Housing Allowance calculations. Further detail, for example awards to those subject to the Shared Accommodation Rate (SAR), is not available. Returns are voluntary and information is not provided by all local authorities. The returns give the number of awards, which may not equate to the number of people receiving them; some people may receive more than one award over the period.   The latest publication is available at the following weblink:   https://www.gov.uk/government/statistics/use-of-discretionary-housing-payments-2013-to-2014   The Department’s housing benefit administrative database, compiled from electronic data supplied by local authorities, identifies by gender and age those Housing Benefit claimants that are assessed by the SAR in the given area. These data are taken from scans of local authority systems. They also hold some information on whether a DHP is being made to the claimant at that time. The recording of this information on the electronic data is incomplete and not reliable.

Torbay

Mr Adrian Sanders: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, how many visits were made by Ministers of his Department to Torbay constituency in the 12 months to 14 October 2014; whom the invitation for each such visit was issued by; and what the cost to the public purse was of each such visit.

Steve Webb: The Secretary of State for Work and Pensions and the ministers of his Department have made no visits in the 12 months to October 2014 to the Torbay constituency in a ministerial capacity.

Children: Maintenance

Kate Green: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what change there has been in the proportion of children living in separated families who receive regular financial support from the non-resident parent since May 2014.

Steve Webb: For cases administered by the Child Support Agency, the number of Children Benefiting from maintenance has decreased from 871,800 in March 2014 to 846,300 in June 2014. This information is routinely published in the CSA Quarterly Summary of Statistics available at: https://www.gov.uk/government/collections/child-support-agency-quarterly-summary-statistics--2 The change in trend can be attributed to the fact that since 25 November 2013 all new applications are now being processed by the Child Maintenance Service. We are not yet in a position to release full statistics for these cases and are therefore unable to provide the information requested. When system data becomes available and fully assured they will be released as part of a managed process, which will be pre-announced and in line with the Code of Practice for Official Statistics. The figures above relate to those receiving support within the statutory child maintenance schemes. Children also benefit from financial support as part of arrangements made outside the statutory schemes, including private arrangements made between the separated parents, which are known as "family-based arrangements”. Our planned approach to measuring this will be considered as part of an evaluation strategy, which we will publish by the end of 2014.

Welfare State: Reform

Fabian Hamilton: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, if his Department will assess the cumulative effect of welfare policy reforms instituted since May 2010; and if he will make a statement.

Esther McVey: The Government regularly produces analysis of the cumulative impact of all coalition changes, including welfare, on households across the income distribution. In the interests of transparency this Government introduced the publication of such documents (produced by HM Treasury), alongside every Budget and Autumn Statement. The most recent update was published with the Budget in March 2014, and can be found using the following link:Impact on households: distributional analysis to accompany Budget 2014 This analysis estimates the effect of coalition measures from all fiscal events from the Budget in June 2010 to the Budget in March 2014. It also includes changes that were announced before the Budget in June 2010 that have been implemented by this Government.

Pension Funds

Caroline Lucas: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what guidance the Government provides to pension fund trustees on the consideration of environmental, social and governance factors as part of their fiduciary duties; and if he will make a statement.

Steve Webb: The Pensions Regulator produces free guidance for trustees via the online Trustee Toolkit. The Trustee Toolkit was updated last week, with new material on the extent to which trustees should take account of social, environmental or ethical considerations when taking investment decisions. This new material reflects the outcomes of the Law Commission’s recent review of fiduciary duties.

Occupational Pensions

Mr Gregory Campbell: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, how many people have been enrolled under automatic enrolment into workplace pensions scheme since the inception of that scheme.

Steve Webb: The latest information published by the Pensions Regulator on 9 October 2014 showed that more than 33,660 employers have completed the automatic enrolment process and 4.75 million eligible workers have been automatically enrolled into a workplace pension.

Conditions of Employment

Mr Frank Field: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, how many people employed on a zero-hours contract have been sanctioned by Jobcentre Plus for failing to look for or secure extra work hours in the last 12 months.

Esther McVey: The information requested is not available. Jobseekers claiming Jobseekers Allowance are not required to apply for zero-hours contract vacancies, they will not be sanctioned as a result of not applying. UC claimants who refuse to accept a zero hours contract job offer, without good reason, can be subject to a sanction. However a UC claimant will not be sanctioned for refusing to take a zero hours contract with an exclusivity clause. Universal Credit automatically adjusts benefit payments depending on the number of hours a person works – whatever the type of contract. Where Universal Credit claimants refuse to apply for a role, including a Zero Hours Contract role when mandated to do so or refuse to accept a job offer, they can be sanctioned. People on Universal Credit will not be required to sign up to zero hours contracts which require exclusivity, so they will always have the opportunity to gain more hours elsewhere.

Housing Benefit

Kate Hoey: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what the effect of a claimant becoming self-employed is on awards of housing benefit.

Steve Webb: The effect of starting self-employment on Housing Benefit will depend on the local authority’s assessment of the claimant’s income, or likely level of income, from the self-employment. Guidance on how to assess self-employed income is in Chapter BW2 of the Housing Benefit Guidance Manual, specifically in paragraphs W2.310 onwards. A link is provided below. www.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/236962/hbgm-bw2-assessment-of-income.pdf

Housing Benefit

Kate Hoey: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what the time limit is for local authority decisions on determining reported changes of circumstances.

Steve Webb: There is no time limit set by Central Government for this. The latest published data for average Speed of Processing for change of circumstances for 2013/14 is 9 days.

Housing Benefit

Kate Hoey: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, under what circumstances local authorities are permitted to suspend housing benefit payments.

Kate Hoey: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, whether it is his Department's policy that an award of housing benefit should be suspended when Permitted Work is reported as a change of circumstance.

Kate Hoey: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what guidance his Department gives to local authorities on steps to take when a claimant of housing benefit who retains an award of employment and support allowance reports a change of circumstance in the form of Permitted Work.

Steve Webb: Guidance to local authorities on permitted work and how it affects Housing Benefit is provided in the Housing Benefit Guidance Manual, Chapter BW2, specifically paragraphs W2.141 and following. A link is provided below. www.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/236962/hbgm-bw2-assessment-of-income.pdf There is no specific suspension rule relating to permitted work cases. Decision makers have general powers to suspend any payment of Housing Benefit, in whole or part, when there is an issue about whether the conditions for entitlement are or were fulfilled, or a question arises about whether a decision to award HB should be revised or superseded. This might be exercised where, for example, the decision maker needs further information from the claimant in order accurately to assess Housing Benefit entitlement. It is not an obligatory power; the decision maker may decide whether or not to suspend, based on the circumstances of the case. Guidance is in the Housing Benefit Guidance Manual, Chapter C8. A link is provided below. www.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/236976/hbgm-c8-suspension-and-termination.pdf

Disability

Kate Hoey: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what arrangements his Department makes for disabled people to contact his Department by email.

Steve Webb: The Department makes reasonable adjustments for disabled people to use alternative communication channels where appropriate, including email.

Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs

Greyhound Racing

Chris Williamson: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, whether her Department's review of the Welfare of Racing Greyhounds Regulation planned for 2015 will take place before the General Election.

George Eustice: The Welfare of Greyhound Regulations 2010 are set for review five years after they were made in April 2010. Defra is beginning the review now by gathering evidence on the operation of the regulations with a view to completing the review after the General Election in May 2015.

Rhinoceros Products and Ivory

Mr Nicholas Brown: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what steps the Government is taking to ensure that the UK upholds its international obligations to prevent the illegal trade of ivory and rhino horns.

George Eustice: The UK Government is taking a leading role in global efforts to end the illegal wildlife trade.In February 2014 we hosted a high-level international conference for leaders from over 40 nations. The Conference resulted in the London Conference Declaration, containing 25 commitments to action on enforcement and criminal justice, demand reduction and sustainable livelihoods. The UK is actively supporting Botswana in hosting a further Conference to review progress in March 2015.We are engaged with a wide range of international organisations and initiatives focused on combatting the illegal wildlife trade and supported the development of a UN resolution on illegal wildlife trade at the UN Environment Assembly earlier this year. The UK also supports organisations active in this field, such as the International Consortium for Combating Wildlife Crime (ICCWC), a partnership of the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES), INTERPOL, the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime, the World Bank and the World Customs Organization.The global effort to regulate international wildlife trade, which includes work to combat illegal wildlife trade, is undertaken within the framework of CITES, in which the UK plays a leading role. The UK is chair of the Rhino Working Group of the CITES Standing Committee and has funded an ICCWC coordinator post within the CITES Secretariat.In December 2013, Defra and the Department for International Development announced a £10 million package to support efforts to tackle the illegal trade in wildlife products, including rhino horn and elephant ivory. This will enable the Government to support projects from developing countries which tackle the illegal wildlife trade, to be allocated through a competitive “Challenge Fund”. We hope to announce shortly the projects which were successful.

Private Finance Initiative

Simon Kirby: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what the total private finance initiative liabilities of her Department are for the next 20 years; and if she will make a statement.

Dan Rogerson: Core Defra has one private finance initiative (PFI) project for which Defra has future liabilities. The details of this can be found on the attached spreadsheet. Core Defra has also sponsored a number of local authority projects through the PFI credit system. These are not liabilities of the Department. Details of these can be found at the following link. This currently provides data as at 31 March 2013 but will be updated shortly with data as at 31 March 2014. https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/private-finance-initiative-projects-2013-summary-data 



PFI Attachment
(Excel SpreadSheet, 22 KB)

Chinese Mitten Crabs

Jim Shannon: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, how many incidents there have been of intrusion in UK waters of Chinese mitten crabs in the last ten years; and what steps she is taking to protect the UK against this species.

George Eustice: There have been at least 311 reported sightings of the Chinese Mitten Crab since 2004.There are no control methods known to be effective in reducing Chinese mitten crab populations. Therefore, the Government’s focus is to minimise the risk of spread through good biosecurity. Defra is working with a broad range of organisations to promote the Check, Clean, Dry campaign to promote behaviours which reduce the risk of spread of aquatic invasive non-native species such as the Chinese mitten crab.

Nature Conservation: EU Law

Jim Shannon: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what discussions she has had with (a) the EU and (b) UK bodies on reform of the Birds and Habitats Directive.

George Eustice: The Secretary of State has had no discussions with EU or UK bodies on reform of the Habitats or Wild Birds Directives since her recent appointment.

Hedges and Ditches

Jim Shannon: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, how many skilled hedge-layers there are in the UK.

George Eustice: The Department does not hold the information requested.

Floods: Stafford

Jeremy Lefroy: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what flood prevention measures have been undertaken in Stafford constituency in the last three years; and how many staff of (a) her Department and (b) the Environment Agency were employed on those measures.

Dan Rogerson: Defra staff work on flood prevention at a strategic level across England rather than being allocated to specific locations such as Stafford.The Environment Agency carries out various tasks to reduce flood risk from main rivers through Stafford. It has a field team of four people based at Uttoxeter, who carry out all routine maintenance and provide an incident response capability for Staffordshire, which includes Stafford.In the past three years (2011 onwards) the Environment Agency has carried out the following works:  LocationWorkSandyford Brook Yearly routine maintenance programme which includes clearing and maintaining flood risk management structures along the watercourse.River Sow 1. Routine inspection of the flood risk management structures and removal of objects such as trees that pose a flood risk.2. Old timber capping boards replaced.Rising Brook and Kingston Brook Routine inspection of the flood risk management structures and removal of objects such as trees that pose a flood risk.Stafford flood schemeYearly routine maintenance programme which includes clearing and maintaining flood management assets along the watercourse.

Sewage: Water Treatment

Maria Miller: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, pursuant to the Answer of 12 September 2014 to Question 208678, what guidance her Department issues on the meaning of Best Available Technology to remove phosphates from water.

Dan Rogerson: Neither Defra nor the Environment Agency has issued guidance on the meaning of Best Available Technology to remove phosphates from sewage. In order to meet the Environmental Quality Standards required by the Water Framework Directive, the Environment Agency sets permit limits for sewage discharge works. The appropriate technology employed to achieve those permit limits is a matter for the operator and is not specified by the Environment Agency.

Road Traffic: Noise

Chris Ruane: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what assessment her Department has made of the effect of traffic noise on (a) physical and (b) mental health.

Dan Rogerson: The Government has not made a direct assessment of the effect of traffic noise on physical and mental health.   Government economists recently used published research on the potential health impacts of noise to develop a methodology to estimate the possible costs of noise pollution. Based on the existing evidence, illustrative estimates suggest that adverse health costs are valued at around £2 - £3 billion per annum. The report of this work is published on the Defra website: https://www.gov.uk/noise-pollution-economic-analysis.

Bees: Beetles

Sammy Wilson: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what steps the Government has taken to prevent the spread of the beehive beetle through produce imported from Italy.

Sammy Wilson: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what assessment she has made of the effect of the beehive beetle on the honey bee population in the UK.

Dan Rogerson: Defra’s Pest Risk Analysis for the small hive beetle, including an assessment of its potential impact, has been published and can be found at www.nationalbeeunit.com/downloadDocument.cfm?id=945.   Exports of bees are banned from an area of 100 km around the outbreak and the Italian authorities are taking steps to eradicate the beetle.   As a precaution, in addition to inspecting recent exports of bees to England and Wales, Defra has alerted and provided advisory leaflets on the small hive beetle to the Plant Health and Seeds Inspectorate, the Horticulture Marketing Inspectorate, and trade associations representing importers of plant produce. We have asked them to remain vigilant and report any suspected findings to the National Bee Unit.

Department for Communities and Local Government

Housing: Construction

Caroline Lucas: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government, how many local authorities have a policy requiring that some or all homes in their area should be built to Lifetime Homes Standards, or to a comparable standard; and if he will make a statement.

Stephen Williams: Survey work undertaken to support the Housing Standards Review impact assessment indicates that around 42% of local authorities in England have a plan policy requiring compliance of all or some of new housing development with Lifetme Homes Standards. The same survey indicates that a further 34% have a policy encouraging (but not mandating) compliance. As a result of the Housing Standards Review the Govenment is proposing to introduce an optional requirement in to the Building Regulations similar to the Lifetime Home Standard, and to enable authorities to chose when to apply this. This will ensure that older and disabled people can have a choice of housing that meets their needs.The proposed new standard has been developed in concert with accessibility and disability groups, and is an improvement on current lifetime home standards, not least by reducing the regulatory cost which would otherwise force up the cost of housing. For example, our Impact assessment has estimated a £521 cost under the new optional standard for a 3 bedroom home; this compares with a £1,097 cost under the existing standard.

Schools: Fast Food

Chi Onwurah: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government, what steps his Department is taking to address health considerations in planning policies in relation to schools and hot-food outlets.

Brandon Lewis: I refer the hon. Member to my written answer to her of 11 September 2014, PQ 208593.

Planning Permission: Appeals

Chi Onwurah: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government, what assessment he has made of the adequacy of democratic oversight of local planning decisions when appealed; and if he will make a statement.

Brandon Lewis: Planning is a quasi-judicial process; it is a long-standing feature of the planning system that there is a right of appeal, just as there are with other local quasi-judicial decisions such as on licensing applications, gambling applications or parking fines. Planning appeals are decided by independent planning inspectors on behalf of the Secretary of State, or in a small number of cases by the Secretary of State himself. Interested parties have a statutory right to make representations on planning appeals, and these representations are required to be taken into account by the decision maker. This allows proper democratic oversight of the appeals process. The Localism Act 2011 has strengthened the role of Local Plans and abolished the last Administration’s top-down Regional Strategies. Our streamlined National Planning Policy Framework strongly encourages areas to get up-to-date Local Plans in place, and we have been actively supporting councils in doing so. Local Plans now set the framework in which decisions on particular applications are taken, whether locally or at appeal, unless material considerations indicate otherwise. Once made a neighbourhood plan will also become part of the area’s statutory development plan — an example of this Government’s localist agenda. Both Local and Neighbourhood Plans are founded on thorough community involvement and are subject to independent examination and consultation. Over 1,200 communities have applied for a neighbourhood planning area to be designated, with over 1,000 areas now designated. Planning inspectors will take full account of all the evidence that is before them, including representations made by local residents and other interested parties. Each representation should be considered on their merits, paying careful regard to the relevant policy and material planning considerations. Since the National Planning Policy Framework was introduced, the number of appeals received has fallen as has the number allowed. The quality of local decisions also remains high—99% of decisions are made locally with only approximately 1% of planning applications overturned on appeal. Housing starts and housing construction are also up, as are permissions for new homes. This means there is more local decision-making, and our reforms are supporting badly-needed new homes within a locally-led planning system.

Fast Food: Planning Permission

Chi Onwurah: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government, what discussions he has had with his ministerial colleagues on using planning applications for further public health objectives by control of the location of fast food outlets.

Brandon Lewis: Ministers within the Department for Communities and Local Government regularly meet colleagues from other Departments to discuss a range of matters.

Housing: Construction

Mr Nigel Evans: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government, how many houses were given planning permission to be built in (a) Ribble Valley, (b) Lancashire and (c) the UK in the last 12 months.

Brandon Lewis: Figures for parts of the UK outside England are a matter for the relevant devolved administration.In the year to June 2014, English local planning authorities gave permission for 230,000 new homes.The Department does not collect figures for the numbers of homes given planning permission at local authority level. It does, however, collect figures on the numbers of residential planning applications decided and granted by each local planning authority. They are published in the Department's live tables P136 (annual) and P135 (quarterly), which are available at the following link:https://www.gov.uk/government/statistical-data-sets/live-tables-on-planning-application-statistics

Wales Office

Private Finance Initiative

Simon Kirby: To ask the Secretary of State for Wales, what the total private finance initiative liabilities of his Department are for the next 20 years; and if he will make a statement.

Alun Cairns: The Wales Office does not have any private finance initiative liabilities.

Honours Student Loans

Susan Elan Jones: To ask the Secretary of State for Wales, if he will make representations to Honours Student Loans on that company's lack of bilingual services for students in Wales.

Susan Elan Jones: To ask the Secretary of State for Wales, what steps he has taken to ensure that student loan companies provide bilingual services to students in Wales.

Alun Cairns: The Student Loans Company has a Welsh language scheme that was approved by the Welsh Language Board in 2009. The Welsh Language Commissioner will carry out an investigation into applying Welsh language standards to the Student Loans Company as part of the second wave of investigations, due to commence in November 2014.I would be pleased to consider any specific information that the hon Lady might bring to my attention in regard to Honours Student Loans.

British Sky Broadcasting

Susan Elan Jones: To ask the Secretary of State for Wales, if he will meet Sky Sports to discuss the use of Welsh language subtitles in their programming.

Susan Elan Jones: To ask the Secretary of State for Wales, what recent steps he has taken to promote Welsh language subtitles in UK broadcasting.

Alun Cairns: The Government recognises the importance of Welsh language broadcasting, including the provision of subtitles in the Welsh language by broadcasters. I recently discussed with Cymdeithas yr Iaith Welsh language services provided by Sky Sports in relation to football matches featuring the Welsh national team, and will be making representations to BSkyB on this issue shortly.

HM Treasury

Football: Gifts and Endowments

Dr Alasdair McDonnell: To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, what gifts of what value have been declared to HM Revenue and Customs by members of the English Football Association and the FIFA vice-president in the last three years.

Mr David Gauke: HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC) is bound by a strict duty of confidentiality, and, under Section 18 (1) Commissioners for Revenue and Customs Act 2005, may not disclose information which is held in connection with its functions. Disclosure of Revenue and Customs information relating to a person whose identity is specified in the disclosure, or can be deduced from it, is an offence under Section 19 (1). This duty of confidentiality prevents HMRC from disclosing details relating to specific individuals.

Bank Services

Jim Shannon: To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, what steps he is taking to ensure that access to savings accounts is not unreasonably restricted.

Mr David Gauke: The Government is committed to encouraging and empowering individuals to save, including by improving access to banking and the transparency of financial products.   Budget 2014 announced a radical package of measures to support savers at all stages of their lives. These measures reduce taxes for the lowest income savers; reform the ISA regime to give savers greater flexibility as to where and how they save their money; and create new products to help retired savers see a better return.   Following the recommendations of the Sergeant Review of Simple Financial Products, the Government has also been driving – and will continue to drive – the financial services industry to design and bring to market further simple and transparent savings products which are fit for purpose and which consumers can more easily understand and trust, and to remove any other barriers to ensuring individuals can access an appropriate mix of financial services.

Repossession Orders

Jon Trickett: To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, what his Department's policy is on the introduction of restrictions on the ability of banks and other mortgage lenders to repossess a home where that would make a family homeless.

Andrea Leadsom: The Government has put a number of protections in place to limit repossessions.   It established the independent Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) and gave them the responsibility to put in place robust protections to ensure fair treatment of borrowers facing payment difficulties. The Department for Work and Pensions also provides help for pensioners and those out of work to meet their mortgage payments through Support for Mortgage Interest. In addition, all borrowers can seek protection in the Courts using the Mortgage Pre-Action Protocol, which makes it clear that repossession must always be the last resort for lenders.   However, a well-functioning mortgage market will always need to keep the possibility of repossession open as a last resort. Without this option, lenders have no reliable security against which to lend and the likely consequence would be higher mortgage rates.

Stamp Duty Land Tax

Mrs Anne Main: To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, what research his Department has undertaken or commissioned into the effects of changes in the level of Stamp Duty Land Tax on the number of property transactions completed between 2005-06 and 2013-14.

Mrs Anne Main: To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, if he will commission research into the fiscal effects of raising the Stamp Duty Land Tax threshold.

Mr David Gauke: The fiscal effect of raising the Stamp Duty Land Tax threshold is likely to be a reduction in SDLT receipts as fewer property transactions will be charged SDLT. A HMRC publication for Budget 2014 (‘Direct Effects of Illustrative Tax Changes’, 19 March 2014) found that an increase in the £125,000 threshold by £5,000 would cost £35 million in its first year and £40 million subsequently.   Published research was undertaken by HMRC examining the impact of a first-time buyer’s relief that was in place between 2010 and 2012 (‘Evaluating the Impact of Stamp Duty Land Tax First Time Buyers Relief’, November 2011). It found that there was a substantial deadweight effect as many of the property transactions would have taken place anyway. The estimated increase in the number of transactions as a result of the introduction of the relief was between 0-1%.

Economic Situation

Mr Nicholas Brown: To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, whether the Governor of the Bank of England in his role as Chairman of the Financial Stability Board has recently raised with him risks to the financial stability of the UK.

Andrea Leadsom: The Financial Stability Board (FSB) works to establish and promote the implementation of effective financial sector policies that build financial stability at the international level. The FSB monitors and assesses vulnerabilities affecting the global financial system and proposes actions needed to address them. One of the ways it does this is through the semi-annual joint early warning exercise in conjunction with the IMF.   The risks raised by the FSB tend to be relevant to the UK, as a global financial centre. In his role as Chairman, the Governor of the Bank of England keeps G20 Finance Ministers, including the Chancellor of the Exchequer, updated on the activities of the FSB.

Tourism: Taxation

Ms Margaret Ritchie: To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, if he will assess the effect on the economy in Northern Ireland of the Irish government's decision to retain a reduced rate of sales tax for the tourism industry.

Mr David Gauke: Latest statistics show that tourism expenditure associated with overnight trips in Northern Ireland has increased by 9 per cent over the last 12 months.   The Treasury has previously considered the impact of a VAT cut for the UK tourism sector on growth and jobs. The conclusion the Government reached is that a VAT cut would not produce sufficient economic growth to outweigh the revenue shortfall. A VAT cut for this sector would therefore need to be funded either by additional borrowing or by raising other taxes, both of which are likely to have a negative effect on the economy. The Government therefore have no plans to introduce a VAT cut for this sector.   Under EU law it is not possible to introduce a specific VAT rate for Northern Ireland that differs from that applied in the rest of the UK.

Department for Energy and Climate Change

Offshore Industry: North Sea

Caroline Lucas: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change, which companies have been granted field allowances for oil and gas production in the North Sea in the last 12 months; and what estimate he has made of the value of each such allowance to each such company over a five-year period.

Matthew Hancock: Oil fields can qualify for field allowances when they receive initial or revised development consent. They are not granted to companies. The participators in each field that qualifies for a field allowance will hold a share of the total allowance for the field which may be activated by production income from that field. We do not track field allowances by company.

Members: Correspondence

Julie Elliott: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change, pursuant to the contribution of the Minister of State of 2 September 2014 in the Second Delegated Legislation Committee on the Draft Renewables Obligation Closure Order 2014, Official Report, column 8, when the Minister plans to write to the hon. Member for Sunderland Central.

Matthew Hancock: A letter was issued to the Hon. Member for Sunderland Central on 10 October 2014.

Solar Power

Julie Elliott: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change, what estimate he has made of likely changes in the number of 50kW and over rooftop solar installations deployed in each year from 2015-16 to 2020-21 as a result of changes to feed-in tariffs announced by his Department on 2 October 2014.

Amber Rudd: The intention of the Feed-in-Tariffs (FITs) policy change announced on 2 October 2014 is to help ensure that building mounted installations - which can help to reduce energy bills, deliver a reduction in pressure on the electricity grid, build on the UK supply chain, result in greater on-site use and support additional jobs – do not suffer from tariff degressions as a result of ground-mounted installations. It is one of a package of measures which the Government is implementing with the aim of ensuring the building mounted sector is well placed to deploy, whilst at the same challenged to innovate and bringing down costs. Estimates of the impact on deployment of 50kW and over rooftop solar installations were set out in the accompanying Impact Assessment (see Table 7):https://www.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/360306/FITs_solar_IA_MASTER.pdf.This showed that the impact on cumulative deployment to 2020/21 is estimated to range from -150MW to +90MW.

Solar Power

Julie Elliott: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change, what estimate he has made of the amount of large-scale solar PV that will be deployed in 2015-16 under Contracts for Difference; and if he will make a statement.

Amber Rudd: The amount that deploys under Contracts for Difference (CfDs) will depend on the strike price at which CfDs are awarded (the auction clearing price), as well as the mix of technologies amongst the successful bidders. The allocation round is currently underway for CfDs and DECC is not in a position to predict the outcome of the CfD auctions.

Private Finance Initiative

Simon Kirby: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change, what the total private finance initiative liabilities of his Department are for the next 20 years; and if he will make a statement.

Amber Rudd: The Department of Energy and Climate Change has no private financial initiative liabilities.

Hinkley Point C Power Station

Tom Greatrex: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change, what compensation mechanisms are in place for EDF in the event that the Government closes Hinkley Point C for reasons other than safety or immediate environmental reasons.

Matthew Hancock: If a final contract is signed, it is expected that the investors in Hinkley Point C would, subject to conditions, receive compensation in the event of a political shut down of the plant other than for reasons including health, nuclear safety, security, environmental reasons, nuclear transport or nuclear safeguards. These arrangements would be supported by an agreement between my rt. hon. Friend the Secretary of State and the Hinkley Point C investors.The exact details of the compensation mechanisms are to be agreed between the Government and EDF, but the principle would be that investors are compensated for their losses directly as a result of the decision to shut them down.

Northern Ireland Office

Private Finance Initiative

Simon Kirby: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, what the total private finance initiative liabilities of her Department are for the next 20 years; and if she will make a statement.

Mrs Theresa Villiers: My Department does not currently have any private finance initiative liabilities.

Northern Ireland Government

Mr Gregory Campbell: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, what estimate she has made of the cost to the public purse of the Northern Ireland political talks due to start in the week commencing 13 October 2014.

Mrs Theresa Villiers: It is important for Northern Ireland that its political leaders reach agreement on key issues that currently divide them. The talks that have been convened are a valuable opportunity to support and facilitate that. It is impossible to gauge costs accurately at present, but the benefits of an agreement would enormously outweigh the cost associated with facilitating the talks.

Corporation Tax

Dr William McCrea: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, what progress she has made on the Government's plan to devolve corporation tax to the Northern Ireland Assembly.

Mrs Theresa Villiers: In ‘Building a Prosperous and United Community’ the Government committed to make a decision on whether to devolve corporation tax powers to Northern Ireland no later than Autumn Statement 2014. Significant legislative and technical work has taken place to date and we remain on track to meet this timetable.

Parades: Belfast

Dr William McCrea: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, what further steps she plans to take to resolve the parade dispute at Twaddell Avenue.

Mrs Theresa Villiers: I recently announced Terms of Reference and Key Principles for a Panel on Parading in the Twaddell/Ardoyne area of North Belfast. I believe that the process set out in the Terms of Reference represents a realistic assessment of how progress towards a resolution to this ongoing parading impasse could be made.I would urge political parties and others with an involvement in the dispute to engage constructively with this process.

Department for Culture Media and Sport

Arts: Trade Unions

Helen Goodman: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, when he last met representatives of the entertainment trade unions.

Mr Edward Vaizey: My Rt Hon Friend, the Secretary of State, met the Musicians Union as part of a music industry roundtable meeting on 2 September 2014. The meeting was called by him to discuss key issues affecting the music industry.

Local Broadcasting: Television

Steve McCabe: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, pursuant to the Answer of 22 July 2014 to Question 206245, if he will meet representatives from BLTV Ltd to discuss its progress on delivering a local television franchise for Birmingham; and if he will make a statement.

Mr Edward Vaizey: Ofcom are currently in contact with the administrator for BLTV about the possibility of transferring the licence to another party in order to launch local services in Birmingham. It would not be appropriate for myself or my Rt. Hon. Friend, the Secretary of State to meet with BLTV or their representatives while this matter is considered by Ofcom.

Private Finance Initiative

Simon Kirby: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, what the total private finance initiative liabilities of his Department are for the next 20 years; and if he will make a statement.

Mrs Helen Grant: DCMS has given undertakings to providing revenue support to a range of library and leisure schemes across England, consistent with the long term nature of PFI contracts. Based on current levels of agreed revenue support, the forecast liability for the next 20 years would be £481m at today’s prices.

Advisory Council On Libraries

Helen Goodman: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, how much the consultation on the proposed abolition of the Advisory Council on Libraries cost the public purse.

Mr Edward Vaizey: No costing has been estimated.

Music: Video Recordings

Helen Goodman: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, for what reason he is piloting age ratings only for music video by artists signed to British music labels.

Mr Edward Vaizey: This is the industry's pilot and they have decided to run it with UK labels only. I am delighted to see that labels Sony Music, Universal Music and Warner Music and platforms YouTube and Vevo are all taking part. I hope this pilot is successful and that more labels and platforms will start to use trusted age ratings in due course.

Broadband: Greater London

Mike Freer: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, how many super-fast broadband not-spots have been identified in (a) the London boroughs and (b) Finchley and Golders Green constituency.

Mr Edward Vaizey: Ofcom’s Communications Market Report states that 92% of premises in Greater London were able to receive NGA broadband in June 2014 (Figure 5.4 http://stakeholders.ofcom.org.uk/binaries/research/cmr/cmr14/2014_CMR_Wales.pdf). Superfast broadband coverage data is not currently available at the London borough level. Ofcom does, however, publish a postcode list (currently for 2013) where individual non-NGA postcodes can be identified (http://data.gov.uk/dataset/broadband-coverage).

Deputy Prime Minister

Sovereignty: Scotland

Mr Angus Brendan MacNeil: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister, with reference to the contracts entered into on 9 January 2014 by the Cabinet Office Devolution Team with Engine Partners LLP, if he will place in the Library (a) the Invitation to Quote for that contract including the Specification Requirements document, (b) details of the criteria against which suppliers were judged and (c) the invoice submitted for that work.

Mr Sam Gyimah: Cabinet Office contracted Engine Partners LLP for the purposes of providing communications support work in relation to the Scottish independence referendum.The documents requested will be ready for publication shortly. Information relating to the costs of this work is already publicly available as part of our routine transparency publications at: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/cabinet-office-spend-data.

Fixed Penalties

Chris Ruane: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister, if he will make it his policy to allow local authorities to keep a part of the funding they receive from issuing fixed penalty notices for non-registration in order to pay for that element of enforcement.

Mr Sam Gyimah: The Government has no plans to change the policy regarding funds received from fixed penalty notices issued for electoral registration purposes. Any money collected by Electoral Registration Officers (EROs) is given to the Consolidated Fund held by central government. This ensures that the civil penalty is not used as a revenue raising measure. There are safeguards in place to ensure that only those who refuse repeated invitations can be penalised and EROs must take specific steps to encourage an application before they can issue a formal notice of requirement. It is at EROs’ discretion whether to issue a civil penalty notice.

Department of Health

Obesity

Robert Halfon: To ask the Secretary of State for Health, if he will estimate the cost to the NHS of treating obesity and its related diseases in (a) Harlow constituency, (b) Essex and (c) England in each of the last three years.

Jane Ellison: Information on National Health Service expenditure on the treatment and prevention of obesity is not collected centrally. However, an analysis of the economic burden of a range of risk factors for chronic disease estimated that overweight and obesity cost the NHS £5.1 billion per year.

Bone Marrow Register

Mark Durkan: To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what steps he is taking to inform young people aged 16 and over about joining the bone marrow donor register.

Jane Ellison: NHS Blood and Transport (NHSBT) manages the British Bone Marrow Registry (BBMR), the NHS Cord Blood Bank and provides specialist services related to the provision of stem cells which can turn into blood cells for the treatment of blood cancers and is responsible for raising awareness of these issues.   NHSBT recruits stem cell donors to the BBMR exclusively from the pool of active blood donors (aged 17 years and above), however those wishing to join at age 16, can do so through Anthony Nolan.   All registered stem cell donors are in the United Kingdom's aligned register. Anthony Nolan manages this single UK bone marrow register, which is known as the 'Anthony Nolan & NHS Stem Cell Registry', and is aligned with the NHS BBMR and the Welsh Bone Marrow Donor Registry.   NHSBT has programmes in place to support education about donation and transplantation for children and young adults including Give and Let Live, a national education programme aimed at promoting awareness of bone marrow, blood, tissue, cord blood and organ donation amongst 14-16 year old pupils.   Within the UK strategy ‘Taking Organ Transplantation to 2020’ (published in July 2013 and available at www.nhsbt.nhs.uk/to2020/), the UK Government Health Departments have agreed to explore with Education Departments the possibility of incorporating donation and transplantation into schools’ curricula.

Drugs: Misuse

Michael Dugher: To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what estimate he has made of the cost to the NHS of the illegal use of controlled substances in (a) England, (b) Yorkshire and Humber, (c) South Yorkshire and (d) Barnsley East constituency.

Jane Ellison: The data is not available in the format requested. However, the Home Office published report ‘The Economic and Social Costs of Class A Drug Use in England and Wales’ estimated the cost of class A drug use to the National Health Service in England to be £488 million per year.

Haematology

Mr Iain Wright: To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what recent assessment he has made of the level of demand for haematology services in (a) England and (b) the North East of England; and what steps he is taking to ensure that resources are able to meet demand.

Jane Ellison: Since 1 April, NHS England has been responsible for securing high quality outcomes for patients with haematological conditions. It has published a number of service specifications for specialised haematological conditions, both for adults and children, which set out what providers should have in place to deliver evidence-based, safe and effective services. These specifications aim to ensure equity of access to a nationally consistent, high quality service for patients.   Clinical commissioning groups are responsible for provision of non-specialist haematology services locally. Local commissioners work closely with providers to consider the most appropriate clinical model for the delivery of haematology services.

General Practitioners: North of England

Jim Fitzpatrick: To ask the Secretary of State for Health, how much funding has been allocated by NHS England to piloting seven-day GP services in the North of England.

Dr Daniel Poulter: NHS England has advised that £12,055,000 has been allocated for 2014-15 across seven pilots in the North of England as part of the Prime Minister’s Challenge Fund to look at ways of improving access to GP services, including longer opening hours on weekdays and weekends.

NHS: Pay

Caroline Lucas: To ask the Secretary of State for Health, if he will make it his policy to implement in full the recommendations of the Pay Review Body for all NHS staff; and if he will make a statement.

Dr Daniel Poulter: The Government has had to make difficult decisions this year on pay but staff will be receiving either an annual incremental increase in pay or a pay award worth at least 1%.   The Government is committed to a National Health Service that provides safe, compassionate care. The choice we faced was either to invest more in pay or to protect the front line; we cannot afford to do both. The Government believes the decision to protect the front line, whilst a difficult decision to make, was the correct one.   Since 2010 there has been an increase of 15,000 clinical staff in the NHS in England including 4,500 additional nurses.   General medical contractors and general dental contractors did receive a consolidated award, as in November 2012 they agreed changes to their contracts to improve services and to end time-based progression pay. These important changes mean that GP earnings more fairly reflect the surgery workload and performance; this is why it was affordable for us to accept the pay review body recommendations   Government have made it clear to the NHS trades unions that it is prepared to discuss any proposals, within the existing pay bill, that could make consolidated awards affordable.

Sugar

Laura Sandys: To ask the Secretary of State for Health, if he will introduce measures to reduce the sugar content of food modelled on those introduced to replace the salt content of food between 2003 and 2011.

Jane Ellison: Under the Government’s voluntary partnership with industry the focus is on overall calorie reduction, of which sugar can form a part. This has resulted in real progress in reducing calories.   The Scientific Advisory Committee Report on Nutrition has recently published their draft recommendations on Carbohydrates. The final report, together with recommendations from Public Health England on sugar in the diet is due next spring. This will inform the Government’s future thinking on sugar.

Sugar

Laura Sandys: To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what steps his Department is taking to reduce sugar intake by the public.

Jane Ellison: We are working with industry to cut sugar and calories across a range of products, including fast food and fizzy drinks. We are also the first country in Europe to recommend simple voluntary front of pack labelling, which will help people to know how much sugar they are consuming. Businesses who have adopted front of pack labelling account for two-thirds of the packaged foods market.   Public Health England (PHE) is leading the way on helping people cut calories from sugar and other foods through the Change4Life campaign. PHE is also undertaking a review of the evidence on sugar in the diet and will make recommendations next spring.

Obesity and Diabetes

Laura Sandys: To ask the Secretary of State for Health, to what extent responsibility for preventing the development of obesity and type 2 diabetes (a) has been devolved to Public Health England and (b) remains with his Department.

Jane Ellison: As steward of the health and care system, the Department sets national priorities, secures and allocates resources, supports our national bodies and holds them to account. The Department carries out this function for the prevention of obesity and diabetes. “Healthy Lives, Healthy People: A Call to Action on obesity in England” is the strategy by which this is delivered and I chair the Obesity Review Group which reviews and holds the system to account.   The delivery of national public health functions in this regard is the responsibility of Public Health England (PHE) including campaigns such as Change4Life, the National Child Measurement Programme and NHS Health Checks. PHE supports local authorities and the health system through making available evidence and information on the important role of tackling poor diets, physical inactivity and excess weight in both the primary prevention of diabetes and as part of disease management.   In addition NHS England has a key role to play on the prevention on obesity and diabetes. “Action for Diabetes”, published in January, sets out NHS England’s broad vision and direction for supporting improvements in outcomes for people with and at risk of diabetes in the coming years, both as a direct commissioner and by providing support to the commissioning system. The report is available at:   www.england.nhs.uk/wp-content/uploads/2014/01/act-for-diabetes.pdf   “Living Well for Longer: National Support for Local Action to Reduce Premature Avoidable Mortality”, published in April, sets out the actions being taken across Government, PHE and NHS England to reduce premature avoidable mortality.   A copy of Living Well for Longer has already been placed in the Library and is also available at:   www.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/307703/LW4L.pdf

Medical Records: Databases

Paul Burstow: To ask the Secretary of State for Health, which data sources he intends to capture through (a) the National Cancer Registration Service and (b) care.data.

Jane Ellison: The National Cancer Registration Service uses a wide range of data sources on patients with cancer that are already collected by the National Health Service for other purposes including: Patient Administration System (PAS) data, Histopathology and laboratory Reports, Radiotherapy and Chemotherapy data, cancer waiting times and cancer screening data from NHS England, cancer audit data from the Health and Social Care Information Centre (HSCIC) and vital status data from the Office for National Statistics.   The Pathfinder stage of the care.data programme will test and refine processes ahead of extracting data from NHS general practitioner (GP) practices in England. The Pathfinder stage will be limited to participating GP surgeries in the clinical commissioning group areas of Leeds North, Leeds West and South and Leeds East, Somerset, West Hampshire and Blackburn with Darwen. When the Care.Data programme is rolled out nationally GP data will be linked to Hospital Episode Statistics which is already collected by the HSCIC. In the future, the NHS also plans to start collecting information from other parts of the health and social care system, such as ambulance data and from community health services such as district nursing.

Tobacco: Counterfeit Manufacturing

Chris Ruane: To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what recent assessment he has made of the threat to public safety of counterfeit tobacco products.

Jane Ellison: All tobacco use is harmful, whether legal or illegal (counterfeit, smuggled or other illicit). HM Revenue and Customs reports that the proportion of illicit tobacco sold in the UK has fallen from one in five cigarettes in 2000-01 to less than one in ten in 2012-13 (9%). The figures for hand rolled tobacco fell from 42% in 2009-10 to 36% in 2012-13.   This decline has been as a result the United Kingdom government implementing a package of measures and a continued commitment to strengthen the anti-smuggling strategy including tightening controls along the supply chain of tobacco industries.

Accident and Emergency Departments: Barnsley

Michael Dugher: To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what proportion of patients have waited for more than four hours at accident and emergency wards at Barnsley NHS Foundation Trust in (a) each week since 2013 and (b) each quarter since 2010.

Jane Ellison: The following table shows the percentage of patients waiting over four hours to be treated, admitted or discharged at the accident and emergency department of Barnsley NHS Foundation Trust in each quarter since 2010.   QuarterBarnsley Hospital NHS Foundation Trust2009/10 Q41.2%2010/11 Q10.8%2010/11 Q22.2%2010/11 Q35.3%2010/11 Q46.1%2011/12 Q13.7%2011/12 Q24.6%2011/12 Q35.0%2011/12 Q44.3%2012/13 Q14.4%2012/13 Q24.6%2012/13 Q36.8%2012/13 Q49.3%2013/14 Q16.8%2013/14 Q24.8%2013/14 Q35.5%2013/14 Q46.6%2014/15 Q13.1%2014/15 Q23.0%   Source: NHS England The following table shows the percentage of patients waiting over four hours to be treated, admitted or discharged at the accident and emergency department of Barnsley NHS Foundation Trust in each week since 2013.   WeekBarnsley Hospital NHS Foundation TrustW/E 6 January 20138.2%W/E 13 January 20137.8%W/E 20 January 20133.7%W/E 27 January20136.2%W/E 3 February 20136.9%W/E 10 February 20136.5%W/E 17 February 20137.6%W/E 24 February 201310.9%W/E 3 March 20137.4%W/E 10 March 201310.4%W/E 17 March 201315.2%W/E 24 March 201313.8%W/E 31 March 201314.8%W/E 7 April 201319.1%W/E 14 April 201311.1%W/E 21 April 201313.5%W/E 28 April 20137.8%W/E 5 May 20135.3%W/E 12 May 20132.3%W/E 19 May 20134.6%W/E 26 May 20133.6%W/E 2 June 20135.9%W/E 9 June 20133.2%W/E 16 June 20133.7%W/E 23 June 20135.6%W/E 30 June 20132.6%W/E 7 July 20131.6%W/E 14 July 20133.3%W/E 21 July 20137.1%W/E 28 July 20135.1%W/E 4 August 20137.0%W/E 11 August 20133.2%W/E 18 August 20136.0%W/E 25 August 20133.6%W/E 1 September 20134.7%W/E 8 September 20133.6%W/E 15 September 20134.6%W/E 22 September 20134.8%W/E 29 September 20137.2%W/E 6 October 20134.1%W/E 13 October 20134.8%W/E 20 October 20137.7%W/E 27 October 20137.4%W/E 3 November 20133.8%W/E 10 November 20133.9%W/E 17 November 20133.4%W/E 24 November 20133.1%W/E 1 December 20134.3%W/E 8 December 20138.8%W/E 15 December 201310.1%W/E 22 December 20136.1%W/E 29 December 20133.2%W/E 5 January 201411.6%W/E 12 January 20146.4%W/E 19 January 20146.1%W/E 26 January 20146.5%W/E 2 February 20143.7%W/E 9 February 20143.7%W/E 16 February 20147.6%W/E 23 February 20146.4%W/E 2 March 201415.3%W/E 9 March 20148.5%W/E 16 March 20142.4%W/E 23 March 20142.4%W/E 30 March 20145.9%W/E 6 April 20148.0%W/E 13 April 20148.1%W/E 20 April 20143.0%W/E 27 April 20142.4%W/E 4 May 20140.5%W/E 11 May 20142.2%W/E 18 May 20140.9%W/E 25 May 20142.1%W/E 1 June 20141.0%W/E 8 June 20141.8%W/E 15 June 20144.0%W/E 22 June 20143.7%W/E 29 June 20141.9%W/E 6 July 20143.1%W/E 13 July 20142.9%W/E 20 July 20142.1%W/E 27 July 20142.7%W/E 3 August 20142.3%W/E 10 August 20145.2%W/E 17 August 20142.6%W/E 24 August 20141.3%W/E 31 August 20145.4%W/E 7 September 20144.9%W/E 14 September 20143.3%W/E 21 September 20140.9%W/E 28 September 20142.1%W/E 5 October20142.7%   Source: NHS England

Hip Replacements

Oliver Colvile: To ask the Secretary of State for Health, how many hip replacement operations were conducted in (a) Devon and Cornwall and (b) England in (i) 2013 and (ii) 2014.

Jane Ellison: In the following table, we have provided information concerning the number of finished consultant episodes (FCEs)1 with a main or secondary procedure2 of hip replacement3 in Devon, Cornwall and Isles of Scilly Area Team of Treatment, and England.   Data for 2013-14 is currently provisional and will be published once it has been validated.   YearDevon, Cornwall and Isles of Scilly Area Team of TreatmentEngland2012-135,311105,499 Activity in English NHS Hospitals and English NHS commissioned activity in the independent sector   Notes: 1. A finished consultant episode (FCE) is a continuous period of admitted patient care under one consultant within one healthcare provider. FCEs are counted against the year in which they end. Figures do not represent the number of different patients, as a person may have more than one episode of care within the same stay in hospital or in different stays in the same year. 2. The number of episodes where the procedure (or intervention) was recorded in any of the 24 (12 from 2002-03 to 2006-07 and 4 prior to 2002-03) procedure fields in a Hospital Episode Statistics (HES) record. A record is only included once in each count, even if the procedure is recorded in more than one procedure field of the record. Note that more procedures are carried out than episodes with a main or secondary procedure. 3. Coding used includes replacements, revisions and conversions of both hip replacements and hemiarthroplasty.   Source: Hospital Episode Statistics (HES), Health and Social Care Information Centre

Community Nurses

Teresa Pearce: To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what assessment he has made of (a) staffing numbers in NHS community and district nursing and (b) the ability of such staff to cope with changes in the level of demand.

Dr Daniel Poulter: The Health and Social Care Information Centre publishes provisional monthly National Health Service hospital and community health service (HCHS) workforce statistics of directly employed staff in NHS trusts and social care trusts in England. The most recent statistics published on 23 September, showed that in June 2014 there were 66,969 full time equivalent qualified nursing and health visiting staff, including district nursing staff working in community-based services.   The Government established Health Education England (HEE) to be responsible for delivering a better health and healthcare workforce for England and for ensuring a secure future supply, to cope with changes in demand, taking into account factors such as the age profile of the existing workforce, the impact of technology, and new drugs.   In December 2013, HEE published its first annual workforce plan for England, covering the period 2014-15. This plan was determined through an assessment of future need by local NHS employers, and Local Education and Training Boards and used as the basis of an investment plan for England, which included community and district nursing requirements, alongside other professions.   This year HEE increased the number of training places for adult nursing by 9% and district nursing by 7.2%.   Since May 2010 the overall number of nurses has increased by 3,379 (1.1%). As part of the Government's response to the Francis Inquiry, many of these increased nurses have been in hospital settings. However, the Government's longer term ambition is to train increasing numbers with the skills to work across all clinical settings. The Mandate to HEE recognises the need for a greater emphasis on community, primary and multi-integrated health and care, requiring working in multidisciplinary teams to break down barriers between primary and secondary care.

Pancreatic Cancer

Naomi Long: To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what estimates he has made of the variation in survival rates for pancreatic cancer patients between (a) UK regions and (b) the UK and other European countries.

Jane Ellison: The latest analysis of pancreatic cancer survival suggests that:   - According to a recent National Cancer Intelligence Network (NCIN) data briefing, pancreatic cancer one-year survival is improving in each of the countries of Great Britain. There is little difference in one-year survival between the countries in Great Britain.   - A recent paper in the Lancet looking at EUROCARE5 data showed variation between countries in five-year pancreatic cancer survival. Whilst the European mean was 6.9%, figures for the United Kingdom were as follows: England 4.7%, Wales 5.4%, Scotland 3.4%, Northern Ireland 3.0%.   - According to the NCIN UK Cancer e-atlas, the UK one-year survival rate for pancreatic cancer was 18.0%. However, there was regional variation in one-year survival rates across cancer networks in England, ranging from 14.0% to 25.6%.

General Practitioners

Jim Fitzpatrick: To ask the Secretary of State for Health, how many GP practices are currently operating services for patients from 8am to 8pm, seven days a week.

Dr Daniel Poulter: NHS England has advised that data on the number of GP practices operating services for patients from 8am to 8pm, seven days a week is not collected centrally.

NHS: Innovation

Mr Virendra Sharma: To ask the Secretary of State for Health, pursuant to the Answer of 16 July 2014 to Question 204839, whether NHS England will publish the Innovation Health and Wealth refresh review before (a) 31 December 2014 and (b) 31 March 2015.

George Freeman: National Health Service England has advised that the publication of this review has been superseded by a five-year forward view of innovation, led by the national clinical director for innovation, which will be published shortly.

Pharmacy

Mr Virendra Sharma: To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what recent discussions he has had with NHS England on assessment of dispensing appliance contractor licences on a national basis.

George Freeman: The Department sets the legislative framework for the inclusion of dispensing appliance contractors on National Health Service England pharmaceutical lists. It is up to NHS England to administer the Regulations and to monitor these contractors. It is for NHS England to approach the Department if they wish to discuss changes to the legislative arrangements. No such approach has been made.

NHS: Intellectual Property

Mr Virendra Sharma: To ask the Secretary of State for Health, how many items of intellectual property have been protected against exploitation; and what assessment he has made of the (a) financial and (b) other effects of the exploitation of intellectual property generated by National Institute of Health Research funding.

George Freeman: The Department’s National Institute for Health Research (NIHR) recognises the key role of Intellectual Property (IP) assets in driving innovation, and the importance of a range of associated activities such as fostering a culture of invention through to collaborating with industry. The NIHR standard research contract is worded to ensure appropriate exploitation of IP.   For 2013-14, NIHR biomedical research centres and units reported a total of 98 patent applications granted, 106 licensing deals agreed, and 6 spin-off companies established.

NHS: Innovation

Mr Virendra Sharma: To ask the Secretary of State for Health, with reference to the Answer of 26 March 2013 to Question 149577, where the minutes of his regular formal accountability meetings with the Chair of the Board are published; and how he holds the Board to account to meet its duties to promote (a) the commercialisation of intellectual property and (b) other forms of innovation.

George Freeman: The Health and Social Care Act 2012 imposes a legal duty on the National Health Service Commissioning Board, known as NHS England, to promote innovation. No such duty exists to promote the commercialisation of intellectual property.   The Secretary of State holds NHS England to account for delivery of its mandate objectives and legal duties through bi-monthly accountability meetings. These feed into an annual assessment of NHS England, which is laid before Parliament. The “Annual Assessment of the NHS Commissioning Board (known as NHS England) 2013-14” was laid in Parliament on 22 July 2014 and included an assessment of NHS England’s performance on innovation.   The minutes of the regular formal accountability meetings between the Secretary of State and the Chair of the NHS Commissioning Board (the legal name for NHS England) are published online on the Government website:   https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/nhs-commissioning-board-accountability-meeting-minutes   Ministers and officials also regularly meet with NHS England to discuss a range of subjects.

NHS: Intellectual Property

Mr Virendra Sharma: To ask the Secretary of State for Health, whether the new Academic Health Science Networks contract with NHS England includes responsibility for identification, protection and exploitation of intellectual property support for local NHS organisations.

George Freeman: Although Academic Health Science Networks (AHSNs) may offer support to National Health Service organisations in identification, protection and exploitation of intellectual property, it is not an explicit requirement of the contract that they do so.   AHSNs are responsible for identifying local priorities for driving patient-based research, improvement pathway, inward investment and life science income based upon local need and by drawing upon local opportunities, resources and expertise within their networks. It is for AHSNs to determine how they can best deliver upon these objectives.

NHS: Intellectual Property

Mr Virendra Sharma: To ask the Secretary of State for Health, pursuant to the Answer of 14 July 2014 to Question 204182, what the reason is for the time taken to publish the intellectual property review.

George Freeman: National Health Service England advises that work is needed to ensure that the intellectual property review reflects the new NHS landscape. This work is currently underway and being led by the national clinical director for innovation.

NHS: Intellectual Property

Mr Virendra Sharma: To ask the Secretary of State for Health, pursuant to the Answer of 14 July 2014 to Question 204180, on the basis of what information NHS England and his Department established that local commissioners are fulfilling the assessment of providers passing or failing the Commissioning for Quality and Innovation pre-qualification thresholds in 2012-13 and 2013-14; and whether that information will be published.

George Freeman: The arrangements for Commissioning for Quality and Innovation (CQUIN) pre-qualification reporting are a matter for the clinical commissioning groups and area teams. We understand that National Health Service England does not capture any data centrally on whether providers were assessed to have met (or not met) the pre-qualification criteria which have been part of previous national CQUIN schemes.

NHS: Innovation

Mr Virendra Sharma: To ask the Secretary of State for Health, puruant to the Answer of 14 July 2014 to Question 204249, what the reason is for the time taken to publish the sunset review of innovation and improvement bodies.

George Freeman: The sunset review of innovation and improvement bodies was an internal review which helped shape long term plans for a number of organisations, including the 15 academic health science networks.   National Health Service England advises that the publication of this review has been superseded by a five-year forward view of innovation, led by the national clinical director for innovation, which will be published shortly. There are no plans to publish the review.

NHS Accelerator Fund

Mr Virendra Sharma: To ask the Secretary of State for Health, pursuant to the Answer of 14 July 2014 to Question 204192, for what reason the NHS Accelerator Fund is NHS branded without the involvement of his Department and NHS England.

George Freeman: We understand that the National Health Service Accelerator Fund has become a working title for a potential fund to support innovations in the NHS. However as the fund has not been launched or any money raised, there is no formal entity in place with this official title. Any proposal to launch the fund with NHS as part of its title would be subject to normal consideration under NHS brand rules.

General Practitioners

Chris Ruane: To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what the average retirement age is of (a) male and (b) female GPs employed by the NHS.

Dr Daniel Poulter: The information is shown in the following table.  Average Pension AgeMale60.8Female60.9   Note: Data from the Government Actuaries Department on the average retirement age of general practitioners covering the period 1 April 2008 – 31 March 2012

General Practitioners

Chris Ruane: To ask the Secretary of State for Health, how many GPs working in the NHS aged (a) 25 to 35, (b) 35 to 45, (c) 45 to 55 and (d) 55 to 65 years old are (i) male and (ii) female.

Dr Daniel Poulter: The Health and Social Care Information Centre General and Personal Medical Services workforce census shows the number of general practitioners (GPs) by age band and gender working in the NHS in England as at 30 September each year.   The attached table shows the number of GPs (excluding registrars and retainers) but including GP providers (partners) and GP others (salaried) by age band and gender as at 30 September 2013 working in the NHS in England. 



GPs by Age Band Sept 2013
(Excel SpreadSheet, 23 KB)

Dr Daniel Poulter: The Health and Social Care Information Centre General and Personal Medical Services workforce census shows the number of general practitioners (GPs) by age band and gender working in the NHS in England as at 30 September each year.   The attached table shows the number of GPs (excluding registrars and retainers) but including GP providers (partners) and GP others (salaried) by age band and gender as at 30 September 2013 working in the NHS in England. 



GPs by Age Band Sept 2013
(Excel SpreadSheet, 23 KB)

General Practitioners

Chris Ruane: To ask the Secretary of State for Health, how many vacancies for the position of GP there are in each (a) local authority area and (b) health authority area; and what such figures represent per head of population.

Dr Daniel Poulter: The information is not collected by the Department. The last GP Vacancy Survey in England was undertaken by the Health and Social Care Information Centre in 2010. The survey was suspended in 2011 and then discontinued in 2013 following the publication of the Fundamental Review of Data Returns, which aimed to reduce the burden of the collection of data from National Health Service organisations.

General Practitioners

Chris Ruane: To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what proportion of GP surgeries opened at (a) evenings and (b) weekends in each of the last 10 years.

Dr Daniel Poulter: NHS England have advised that data on the proportion of GP surgeries that opened at evenings and weekends in each of the last 10 years is not held centrally.

General Practitioners

Chris Ruane: To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what the average number of hours worked by a GP was in each of the last 10 years.

Dr Daniel Poulter: Data on the average number of hours worked by a general Practitioner (GP) in each of the last 10 years is not held centrally. The National GP Worklife Survey 2012 (published in 2013) conducted by the University of Manchester asked GPs how many hours they spent, on average, per week, doing NHS GP-related work. This included all clinical and non-clinical NHS work but excluded out of hours work. In the last three released surveys, the average number of weekly hours worked was as follows: YearAverage number of weekly hours worked201241.7 hours201041.4 hours200842.1 hours   Note: prior to 2008, the question wording changed, and therefore the data collected cannot be used for accurate comparison.   Source: Seventh National GP Worklife Survey; University of Manchester; 2013 This report showed no significant change in the average weekly hours worked by GPs over the 2008-2012 time period. It should also be noted that the sample size varied between the samples and did not necessarily involve the same GPs.

General Practitioners

Chris Ruane: To ask the Secretary of State for Health, how many UK-born and trained GPs now work outside the UK; and what the five most common destination countries for such GPs are.

Dr Daniel Poulter: The Department does not hold the information requested.

General Practitioners

Chris Ruane: To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what the average pension was of a retired GP in each of the last 10 years.

Dr Daniel Poulter: Data has been provided by the Government Actuary’s Department on the average pension of general practitioners who have retired in each of the last six years.   The information is not available for the last 10 years as requested. Information that is available is in the following table. YearAverage Pension (£)2012-1344,6002011-1245,8002010-1143,3002009-1042,1002008-0940,4002007-0838,800   1. This information is based on intervaluation movements data provided by National Health Service Business Services Authority for the 2012 scheme valuation and 2014 resource accounts (which were based on 2013 data). 2. The average pension provided in the table above is the average pre-commuted pension coming into payment for both general medical and dental practitioners. Since 2008 NHS Pension scheme members have been able to commute up to 25% of their pension in return for an enhanced lump sum.

General Practitioners

Chris Ruane: To ask the Secretary of State for Health, how many (a) full time, (b) part time and (c) full time equivalent GPs were employed in the NHS in each of the last 10 years.

Dr Daniel Poulter: The Health and Social Care Information Centre General and Personal Medical Services workforce census shows the number of general practitioners (GPs) who work full-time, part-time and the full-time equivalent number working in the National Health Service in England as at 30 September each year.   The attached table shows the number of GPs by working pattern working in the NHS in England as at 30 September in each of the last 10 years. 



Table
(Excel SpreadSheet, 25.46 KB)

General Practitioners

Chris Ruane: To ask the Secretary of State for Health, how many students were training to be GPs in each of the last ten years.

Dr Daniel Poulter: The information is not collected by the Department.   The Government established Health Education England (HEE) to be responsible for delivering a better health and healthcare workforce for England and for ensuring a secure future supply, to cope with changes in demand, taking into account factors such as the age profile of the existing workforce, the impact of technology, and new drugs.   HEE has published the number of postgraduate medical trainees that enter general practice specialty training at ST1 in each of the last five years, at:   http://gprecruitment.hee.nhs.uk/Portals/8/Documents/Annual%20Reports/GP%20ST1%20Recruitment%20Figures%202009-13.pdf   This information is summarised in the following table together with the number of posts that were commissioned and the fill rate.Posts CommissionedPosts Filled% Filled20092,7192,62695.58%20102,7322,800102.49%20112,6722,65899.48%20122,6872,66999.33%20132,7612,73899.17%

Doctors

Chris Ruane: To ask the Secretary of State for Health, how many UK-trained doctors resident in the UK and below retirement age are not employed in the NHS.

Dr Daniel Poulter: The information requested is not centrally collected. Departmental officials are aware that the General Medical Council does collect some demographic data about doctors and this is published in its annual report ‘The state of medical education and practice in the UK’.

Surgery

Jim Shannon: To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what recent steps he has taken to ensure that surgeons do not work excessive hours.

Dr Daniel Poulter: It is the responsibility of National Health Service trusts to ensure that service rotas are designed and staffed appropriately, and are in accordance with the Working Time Regulations. The Department commissioned the Royal College of Surgeons to review the impact of the Working Time Directive on the health sector. A taskforce, chaired by Professor Norman Williams and comprising of representatives from across the medical profession, met on six occasions from October 2013 to February 2014 and a report was produced. In relation to doctors working excessive hours, the report made recommendations that NHS trusts should review best practice in the design of working rotas and that the lack of flexibility be addressed whilst recognising doctors must not suffer undue fatigue. The recommendations of the report have been accepted and the relevant organisations are taking them forward.

Hip Replacements

Jim Shannon: To ask the Secretary of State for Health, how many hip replacements there were in each of the last five years.

Jane Ellison: In the following table, we have provided information concerning the number of finished consultant episodes (FCEs)1 with a main or secondary procedure2 of hip replacement (not including revision procedures)3 in England, for the years 2008-09 to 2012-134. YearFCEs2008-0985,9342009-1086,5202010-1191,7052011-1295,2392012-1395,835   Activity in English NHS Hospitals and English NHS commissioned activity in the independent sector   Notes: 1. A finished consultant episode (FCE) is a continuous period of admitted patient care under one consultant within one healthcare provider. FCEs are counted against the year in which they end. Figures do not represent the number of different patients, as a person may have more than one episode of care within the same stay in hospital or in different stays in the same year. 2. The number of episodes where the procedure (or intervention) was recorded in any of the 24 (12 from 2002-03 to 2006-07 and 4 prior to 2002-03) procedure fields in a Hospital Episode Statistics (HES) record. A record is only included once in each count, even if the procedure is recorded in more than one procedure field of the record. Note that more procedures are carried out than episodes with a main or secondary procedure. 3. Coding used includes hip replacements and hemiarthroplasty. Hip replacement and hemiarthroplasty conversions and revisions have been excluded. 4. HES figures are available from 1989-90 onwards. Changes to the figures over time need to be interpreted in the context of improvements in data quality and coverage (particularly in earlier years), improvements in coverage of independent sector activity (particularly from 2006-07) and changes in NHS practice. For example, changes in activity may be due to changes in the provision of care.   Source: Hospital Episode Statistics (HES), Health and Social Care Information Centre

Knee Replacements

Jim Shannon: To ask the Secretary of State for Health, how many knee replacements there were in each of the last five years.

Jane Ellison: In the following table, we have provided information concerning the number of finished consultant episodes (FCEs)1 with a main or secondary procedure2 of knee replacement (not including revision procedures)3 in England, for the years 2008-09 to 2012-134.   YearFullKnee ReplacementHemiarthroplastyUnicompartmentalKneeReplacementTotalKnee Replacements2008-0968,1364,59919672,9312009-1066,9151,4253,20671,5462010-1169,9917314,15374,8752011-1273,1663934,86578,4242012-1372,6762035,25678,135   Activity in English NHS Hospitals and English NHS commissioned activity in the independent sector   Notes: 1. A finished consultant episode (FCE) is a continuous period of admitted patient care under one consultant within one healthcare provider. FCEs are counted against the year in which they end. Figures do not represent the number of different patients, as a person may have more than one episode of care within the same stay in hospital or in different stays in the same year. 2. The number of episodes where the procedure (or intervention) was recorded in any of the 24 (12 from 2002-03 to 2006-07 and 4 prior to 2002-03) procedure fields in a Hospital Episode Statistics (HES) record. A record is only included once in each count, even if the procedure is recorded in more than one procedure field of the record. Note that more procedures are carried out than episodes with a main or secondary procedure. 3. Coding used includes full knee replacements; hemiarthroplasty – only one bone in the knee joint is replaced; and unicompartmental knee replacement - the surfaces of two joints within the knee joint are replaced. 4. HES figures are available from 1989-90 onwards. Changes to the figures over time need to be interpreted in the context of improvements in data quality and coverage (particularly in earlier years), improvements in coverage of independent sector activity (particularly from 2006-07) and changes in NHS practice. For example, changes in activity may be due to changes in the provision of care.   Source: Hospital Episode Statistics (HES), Health and Social Care Information Centre

Shoulder Replacements

Jim Shannon: To ask the Secretary of State for Health, how many shoulder replacements there were in each of the last five years.

Jane Ellison: In the following table, we have provided information concerning the number of finished consultant episodes (FCEs)1 with a main or secondary procedure2 of shoulder replacement (not including revision procedures)3 in England, for the years 2008-09 to 2012-134. YearFCEs2008/091,2262009/101,5312010/111,8312011/122,4582012/133,102 Activity in English NHS Hospitals and English NHS commissioned activity in the independent sector Notes: 1. A finished consultant episode (FCE) is a continuous period of admitted patient care under one consultant within one healthcare provider. FCEs are counted against the year in which they end. Figures do not represent the number of different patients, as a person may have more than one episode of care within the same stay in hospital or in different stays in the same year. 2. The number of episodes where the procedure (or intervention) was recorded in any of the 24 (12 from 2002-03 to 2006-07 and 4 prior to 2002-03) procedure fields in a Hospital Episode Statistics (HES) record. A record is only included once in each count, even if the procedure is recorded in more than one procedure field of the record. Note that more procedures are carried out than episodes with a main or secondary procedure. 3. Numerous codes for shoulder replacement have been used. Shoulder replacement conversions and revisions have been excluded. 4. HES figures are available from 1989-90 onwards. Changes to the figures over time need to be interpreted in the context of improvements in data quality and coverage (particularly in earlier years), improvements in coverage of independent sector activity (particularly from 2006-07) and changes in NHS practice. For example, changes in activity may be due to changes in the provision of care.Source: Hospital Episode Statistics (HES), Health and Social Care Information Centre

Dental Health

Jim Shannon: To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what steps he has taken to improve dental health through (a) education and (b) improvement to dental materials.

Dr Daniel Poulter: In June Public Health England published two key documents to support oral health improvement:   The third edition of Delivering Better Oral Health provides evidence-based guidance for health care professionals on the prevention of dental disease. This includes specific advice regarding the provision of preventative dental advice and treatment for children. This edition includes a new section on ‘Helping patients to change behaviour’ which supports health care professionals on how to help their patients to change behaviour and improve their health and wellbeing.   Local authorities are responsible for oral health improvement and the commissioning of oral health improvement programmes; the toolkit (Local Authorities Improving oral health: Commissioning Better Oral Health for Children and Young people) aims to support local authorities to commission these programmes.

Antibiotics

Jim Shannon: To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what steps he is taking to ensure the continuing effectiveness of antibiotics.

Jane Ellison: The Government is taking a wide range of measures as part of implementing the UK Five Year Antimicrobial Resistance Strategy. In addition to work to galvanise international action and stimulate drug development, conserving the efficacy of antibiotics through improved infection prevention and appropriate prescribing is a key objective at the heart of our programme.   Following the findings of the English Surveillance Programme for Antimicrobial Utilization and Resistance (October 2014), we have developed new antibiotic prescribing measures for primary and secondary care to help reduce variability in antibiotic prescribing that together with guidance should help to improve antimicrobial stewardship.   We are updating a key resource for secondary care, called Start Smart Then Focus, on the appropriate use of antibiotics, and have updated a resource called TARGET (Treat Antibiotics Responsibly, Guidance and Educational Tool) for general practitioners to help them educate patients about appropriate use of antibiotics.   The first annual report detailing full progress on implementing the UK Five Year Antimicrobial Resistance Strategy, together with details of future plans, will be published later this year.

Contact Lenses

Jim Shannon: To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what estimate he has made of the number of people with eye infections caused by sub-standard contact lenses.

Dr Daniel Poulter: No estimation has been made of the number of people with eye infections caused by sub-standard contact lenses.   Prescription contact lenses must comply with the Medical Devices Directive and must carry a CE marking to denote compliance with the Directive.

Norovirus

Jim Shannon: To ask the Secretary of State for Health, how many incidents of norovirus there were in the last six months.

Jane Ellison: In the period April 2014 to September 2014 the Public Health England Centre for Infectious Disease Surveillance and Control (CIDSC) received reports of 87 laboratory confirmed outbreaks of norovirus infection in hospitals in England.   In addition, seven laboratory confirmed outbreaks of foodborne norovirus infection were reported to CIDSC from health protection teams in England during the same period.

Wombs: Transplant Surgery

Jim Shannon: To ask the Secretary of State for Health, how many women had womb transplants in the UK in the last five years.

Jane Ellison: There have been no womb transplants in the United Kingdom in the last five years.

Metachromatic Leukodystrophy

Jim Shannon: To ask the Secretary of State for Health, how many people there are with metachromatic leukodystrophy in the UK, by age group.

Norman Lamb: The Department does not hold information on the numbers of people with this disease.

Hospitals

Jim Shannon: To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what steps he is taking to address the cost to hospitals of providing snacks, television, internet, books and magazines.

Dr Daniel Poulter: The provision of snacks, television, internet, books and magazines to inpatients is the responsibility of individual National Health Service providers and they will obtain them at the best cost available.

Children: Allergies

Jim Shannon: To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what estimate he has made of the number of children with milk allergies; and what steps he is taking to reduce that number.

Jane Ellison: The prevalence of cow’s milk allergy is estimated to be between 2 and 3% in children during the first year of life. The Food Standards Agency is currently funding a number of research projects investigating the causes and mechanisms that underlie the development of food allergies in children (including cow’s milk allergy). This includes the Enquiry about Tolerance (EAT) study and a systematic literature review on infant feeding and the development of food allergic disease. The results of these research projects will be reviewed by Government Scientific Advisory Committees. Through this we will identify the factors that may influence the development of food allergic disease in children (including cow’s milk allergy) to inform future preventative strategies and advice to consumers. The results of this research are expected, to be published in 2016.

Perinatal Mortality

Jim Shannon: To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what recent steps he has taken to reduce the number of still births.

Dr Daniel Poulter: We have made reducing stillbirth an improvement area for the National Health Service in the NHS Outcomes Framework. It is encouraging that the stillbirth rate in England has fallen from 5.2 stillbirths per 1,000 total births in 2011 to 4.7 in 2013.   The Department is working with key partners, including NHS England, Public Health England, Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists, Royal College of Midwives and the stillbirth and neonatal death charity Sands, to identify and drive forward the actions required to help reduce further the stillbirth and neonatal mortality rate in England.   Our stillbirth prevention work programme aims to reduce stillbirth and neonatal mortality by raising awareness of the known risk factors; identifying the currently unknown factors and causes associated with perinatal and infant mortality; and facilitate the learning and sharing of good practice across the NHS.

Obesity

Jim Shannon: To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what guidance his Department issues on reducing obesity through diets.

Jane Ellison: Public Health England (PHE) provides advice on diet and nutrition issues based on evidence considered by the Scientific Advisory Committee on Nutrition. This is communicated to the public and professionals through a range of tools including the eatwell plate and the Change4Life social marketing campaign. This aims to enable families to adopt health promoting behaviours around diet and physical activity which can help maintain a healthy weight.   PHE provides tools and support to local authorities who are responsible for commissioning of weight management services based on expert guidance from the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence, to support overweight and obese individuals to lose weight through evidence based and effective interventions.

Surgery

Jim Shannon: To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what guidance his Department issues on measures to prevent patients regaining consciousness during surgical operations.

Jane Ellison: The Department does not publish clinical guidance on measures to prevent patients regaining consciousness during surgical operations. It is the role of the Royal College of Anaesthetists to provide guidance on training and standards of clinical care in anaesthesia.

Childbirth

Jim Shannon: To ask the Secretary of State for Health, how many women aged over (a) 40 and (b) 50 gave birth naturally in each of the last five years.

Dr Daniel Poulter: The following table lists the total number of spontaneous vertex (normal vaginal delivery) births to women over 40 and women over 50 since 2008-9. The data was extracted from the Hospital Episode Statistics (HES), provided by the Health and Social Care Information Centre (HSCIC), and applies to England only. YearAge bandTotal DeliveriesSpontaneous vertex (normal vaginal delivery)2008-0940-4923,80811,57050+100232009-1040-4924,20111,62950+127292010-1140-4925,05411,92550+123322011-1240-4925,63312,19450+103282012-1340-4925,68511,90150+11422 Full details on birth by method of delivery is available on the HSCIC website at:   www.hscic.gov.uk/hes

In Vitro Fertilisation

Jim Shannon: To ask the Secretary of State for Health, how many women aged over (a) 40 and (b) 50 received IVF in each of the last five years.

Dr Daniel Poulter: The number of women aged over 40 and 50 who received invitro fertilisation (IVF), for each of the last five years for which treatment data has been verified, is shown in the following table:   YearsPatients aged 40-49 undergoing IVF treatmentPatients aged 50 and over undergoing IVF treatment20087,5146320097,9385620108,5436020118,7086820128,80873   Notes: The years 2008-2012 have been supplied as 2012 is the last complete year that has been verified for treatment data.   Source: The Human Fertilisation and Embryology Authority

Alcoholic Drinks: Females

Jim Shannon: To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what steps he is taking to reduce alcohol consumption by women.

Jane Ellison: There are women specific lower risk drinking guidelines which recommend that; women should not regularly drink more than two to three units a day.   The Chief Medical Officer is currently overseeing a United Kingdom – wide review of all alcohol guidelines so that both men and women can make informed choices about their drinking at all stages of their lives.   The review will specifically include consideration of health risks for women from alcohol consumption. We expect to be able to consult on new draft guidelines by Summer 2015.   The Government is also committed to improving the labelling of alcoholic drinks, including a warning for women who are pregnant or trying to conceive.   As part of the Public Health Responsibility Deal, alcohol retailers and producers have a responsibility to help raise this awareness and committed to putting an agreed warning or a pregnancy warning logo on 80% of labels on bottles and cans by the end of 2013. An independent market survey has been carried out which we expect to be published shortly. Subject to publication the final report suggests that almost 80% of bottles and cans have this information.

Lung Cancer

Jim Shannon: To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what discussions he has had with the Royal Colleges about detection of lung cancer by breath examination.

Jane Ellison: The Secretary of State has not met with any representatives from the Royal Colleges regarding the detection of lung cancer by breath examination. The National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) is in the process of updating the guidelines on cancer diagnosis to ensure that these reflect latest evidence and can continue to support general practitioners to identify patients with the symptoms of suspected cancer, and urgently refer them as appropriate. NICE’s anticipated publication date for the revised guidelines is May 2015.

Depressive Illnesses

Jim Shannon: To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what discussions he has had with the Royal Colleges on addressing depression through diet and alternative medication.

Norman Lamb: No such discussions have taken place.   The Department is aware that some patients find complementary and alternative treatments helpful in the management of depression and anxiety. However, there is no conclusive evidence that complementary and alternative therapies are effective in the treatment of moderate to severe depression, but they may help with milder forms of depression.   Recent research has shown that mental health may be influenced by dietary factors. Diet and any alternative therapies should be discussed with a person’s general practitioner, when treatments are being recommended.

Alcoholic Drinks: Misuse

Jim Shannon: To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what recent steps he has taken to publicise the harm to unborn children caused by binge drinking by pregnant women.

Jane Ellison: Government’s advice is that women should avoid drinking alcohol if they are pregnant or trying to get pregnant. If women do drink, it is best to minimise the risk to the baby by not drinking more than one to two units of alcohol once or twice a week. The Government funds the Start4Life website and the Information Service for Parents, which provides pregnant women/new mothers and their partners with comprehensive advice on staying healthy in pregnancy, preparing for birth and looking after their baby, and includes advice on risks of drinking before conception and during pregnancy. The Start4Life digital service for Parents provides National Health Service and other quality assured advice, including on alcohol consumption via regular text and email updates. Since launching on 18 May 2012, 384,985 new parents have signed up to the service.

Cancer: Drugs

Jim Shannon: To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what recent steps he has taken to ensure the continuing availability of cancer drugs.

George Freeman: Patients have the right to cancer drugs and treatments that have been recommended by the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence technology appraisal guidance for use in the National Health Service, where their doctor believes they are clinically appropriate.   We announced in August that the Cancer Drugs Fund would be increased to £280 million in both 2014-15 and 2015-16. Since October 2010, over 55,000 cancer patients in England have benefitted from the Fund.

Organs: Donors

Jim Shannon: To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what steps he has taken to increase the number of people registered as organ donors for cornea transplant.

Jane Ellison: National Health Service Blood and Transplant (NHSBT), the organ donation organisation for the United Kingdom, actively campaigns to promote public awareness about the importance of tissue and organ donation this includes cornea donation.   Current action includes prompting people to sign up to the Organ Donor Registration (ODR) through Government owned channels such as applying for a driving licence and paying car tax online. NHSBT also works with a number of partners in the private, public and third sectors to promote organ donation. This partnership activity includes awareness raising and outreach activity, and mechanisms through which people can join the ODR.   In 2013-14, cornea transplantation helped to restore or improve the sight of 3,724 blind or partially sighted people.

Titanium Implants

Jim Shannon: To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what recent discussions he has had about the use of titanium implants to enable people who are paralysed by injury to regain their mobility.

George Freeman: The Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency has not been involved in any recent discussions about the use of titanium implants to enable people who are paralysed by injury to regain their mobility.

Carers UK

Mr Barry Sheerman: To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what recent meetings he has had with Carers UK.

Norman Lamb: In my ministerial role I have met with Helena Herklots Chief Executive Of Carers UK on the following three occasions:   - 12 February 2014: Care and Support Transformation Group meeting;   - 12 February 2014: Carers UK and other carer interest groups to have a photocall for the launch of ‘Carers Week Quest’; and   - 10 July 2014: Helena Herklots on 10 July to discuss the Care & Support Transformation Group.

General Practitioners

Jim Fitzpatrick: To ask the Secretary of State for Health, how many GP practices with 10-year contracts with NHS England have had those contracts (a) terminated and (b) renegotiated after five years of operation.

Jane Ellison: This information is not held or collected centrally.

NHS Walk-in Centres: Tower Hamlets

Jim Fitzpatrick: To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what assessment NHS England has made of the effect on the 8am to 8pm seven-day-a-week service operated by the Barkantine Health Centre of the decision by NHS England to separate the walk-in centre at that location from the general services.

Jane Ellison: We are informed by NHS England that the 8am-8pm walk in service is to be disaggregated from the service for registered patients at the Barkantine Health Centre. This is because the commissioning of the walk in service became the responsibility of the clinical commissioning groups (CCGs) in April 2013.   We are assured that there will be an extensive engagement process undertaken with patients and key stakeholders. Tower Hamlets CCG will be responsible for the process and future decisions concerning the location and design of walk-in services.   The expectation is that the disaggregation of the contract should take place at the first available opportunity i.e. at the point a contract has a break clause.

Hospitals: Waiting Lists

Helen Jones: To ask the Secretary of State for Health, how many people in Warrington waited more than 18 weeks for treatment in each year from 2010.

Jane Ellison: The data is not available in the format requested. The following table shows the number of patients who waited or were waiting over 18 weeks from referral to first treatment at Warrington and Halton NHS Foundation Trust in each month from January 2010 to August 2014.Admitted (adjusted) pathwaysNon-admitted pathwaysIncomplete pathwaysJanuary 2010101571,178February 2010110651,269March 2010138571,314April 201087721,340May 2010108541,316June 201098681,426July 2010112621,481August 201074361,592September 201099361,552October 201096401,460November 201094481,530December 201070261,626January 201184421,583February 201181291,451March 2011106581,156April 201172251,104May 201181381,105June 201175201,228July 201182381,801August 201179451,830September 201196361,366October 2011107601,403November 2011154711,453December 2011130681,530January 20121271291,474February 2012119681,363March 201213890924April 201212649881May 201212545885June 201212058888July 201214385834August 201212468867September 201215975821October 201215085819November 201215646880December 201210342844January 201313168870February 201315866884March 201315654872April 201315152930May 201315360975June 201316551923July 201317475870August 201313456951September 201316571831October 201314759800November 201315862772December 201310679722January 201414185704February 201412357687March 201412065655April 201412659662May 201411772675June 201411145636July 201417779656August 201416075581   Source: NHS England   Notes: Admitted (adjusted) pathways means inpatients/day-cases during the month.Non-admitted pathways means outpatient pathways, and pathways that end without treatment.Incomplete pathways means the number of patients still waiting at the month end.Data cannot be aggregated into years as incomplete pathways data provides a snapshot at each month end.

Pharmaceutical Price Regulation Scheme

Dr Julian Huppert: To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what the value is of the rebate payments made by industry under the Pharmaceutical Price Regulation Scheme to date; and what proportion of that rebate has been reinvested in (i) healthcare services and (ii) medicines expenditure.

George Freeman: The Department has received £74 million from members of the Pharmaceutical Price Regulation Scheme (PPRS) in respect of PPRS payments for the first quarter of the calendar year 2014 and £76 million in respect of the second quarter. The Department will publish aggregate information on sales reports and payments made under the scheme on a quarterly basis. The first two quarters PPRS payments were published in June and September 2014 respectively and can be found on the Government’s website at:   https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/pprs-quarterly-net-sales-and-payment-information   In respect of England, the anticipated payments in 2014-15 have been passed on to NHS England through the Mandate and as such were included within commissioner allocations.

Ebola

Mr Jim Cunningham: To ask the Secretary of State for Health, how many quarantined hospital beds the UK has capacity to provide for Ebola treatment.

Jane Ellison: The Secretary of State laid out what hospital facilities were available for the treatment of Ebola patients during his statement to the House on 13 October 2014, Official Report, columns 28 to 46.   The National Health Service has a network of clinicians and infectious diseases units that work in a collaborative manner to manage patients with infectious diseases. In rare and complex infections, treatment is likely to include the use of isolation facilities with appropriate air handling and air filtration systems (for the protection of staff and public as per the Health and Safety Executive Advisory Committee on Dangerous Pathogens guidelines). The use of beds is managed through the network and escalated as necessary based on the needs of the presenting patient. This network of units will continue to work together with NHS England to manage the current threat of Ebola as they would with any new or emerging infectious disease.

Cancer: Drugs

Steve Rotheram: To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what proportion of the cancer drugs fund has been spent in Liverpool since its inception.

George Freeman: Prior to April 2013, information on the Cancer Drugs Fund was administered through clinical panels based in each strategic health authority (SHA) and data on spend through the Fund in each city was not collected. Information on spend by the North West SHA and in England in 2010-11, 2011-12 and 2012-13 is shown in the following table:Amount Spent (£000)2010-11Amount Spent (£000) 2011-12Amount Spent (£000) 2012-13North West SHA7,40010,01529,272England38,254108,327175,334 Source: Information provided to the Department by SHAs   NHS England has had oversight of the Fund since April 2013 and does not collect information at city level. In 2013-14, £63,368,429 was spent through the Fund in the North of England region and total national expenditure in England, net of any central rebates, was £230,539,005. Figures for 2014-15 are not currently available.

Alcoholic Drinks: Misuse

Steve Rotheram: To ask the Secretary of State for Health, if he will list the total number of alcohol-related (a) GP and (b) hospital admissions in each English region.

Jane Ellison: The following table contain the sum of the estimated alcohol attributable fractions (AAFs) for admission for patients via a general practitioner (GP) (Emergency) and hospital.   It should be noted that these figures are not a count of people and represent an estimated number of admissions that were attributable to alcohol.   AAFs are based on the proportion of a given diagnosis or injury that is estimated to be attributed to alcohol. Some diagnoses or injuries will, by definition, be wholly attributable to alcohol and have an AAF of one, others will only be partly attributable to alcohol and have an AAF greater than zero, but less than one. Diagnoses or injuries that are not attributable at all to alcohol will have an AAF of zero.   These figures are derived by summing all AAFs for the relevant admissions and should therefore only be interpreted as an estimate of the number of admissions that can be attributed to alcohol.   In addition, partial AAFs are not applicable to children aged under 16 years, therefore figures for this age group relate only to wholly – attributable admissions.   Sum of AAFs1 of finished admission episodes2 (FAEs) for (a) all admissions and (b) emergency admissions via a GP by strategic health authority of treatment for 2012-13 Strategic Health Authority of TreatmentEmergency admissionvia a GPHospital admissionsNorth East4,83585,872North West11,686202,278Yorkshire And The Humber7,694133,076East Midlands5,79683,266West Midlands8,660134,613East of England7,813121,948London1,512181,824South East Coast4,70990,870South Central5,90968,867South West11,843129,849Total 370,4571,232,464 Activity in English NHS Hospitals and English NHS commissioned activity in the independent sector. Source: Hospital Episode Statistics (HES), The Health & Social Care Information Centre   Notes:   1. Alcohol–related admissions The number of alcohol-related admissions is based on the methodology developed by the North West Public Health Observatory (NWPHO), which uses 48 indicators for alcohol-related illnesses, determining the proportion of a wide range of diseases and injuries that can be partly attributed to alcohol as well as those that are, by definition, wholly attributable to alcohol. Further information on these proportions can be found at http://www.nwph.net/nwpho/publications/AlcoholAttributableFractions.pdf   The AAF is set to 1 (100%) where the admission is considered to be entirely due to alcohol, e.g. in the case of alcoholic liver disease - these records are described as wholly alcohol attributable. The alcohol attributable fraction is set to a value greater than 0 but less than 1 according to the NWPHO definition, e.g. the alcohol fraction of an admission with a primary diagnosis of C00 - malignant neoplasm of lip, where the patient is male and between 65 and 74 is 0.44 - these records are described as partly alcohol attributable.   These wholly and partly attributable fractions can be aggregated to supply an estimate of activity which can be considered wholly or partly attributable to alcohol.   Partly AAFs are not applicable to children under 16. Therefore figures for this age group relate only to wholly-attributable admissions, where the attributable fraction is one.   2. Finished admission episodes A finished admission episode (FAE) is the first period of admitted patient care under one consultant within one healthcare provider. FAEs are counted against the year or month in which the admission episode finishes. Admissions do not represent the number of patients, as a person may have more than one admission within the period.   3. "Total" Strategic Health Authority of Treatment Note that the "Total" SHA of Treatment includes patients treated in Wales.

Chronic Illnesses

Steve Rotheram: To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what proportion of the population in the city of (a) Birmingham, (b) Manchester, (c) Leeds, (d) Newcastle, (e) Bristol, (f) Southampton and (g) Nottingham has a long-term medical condition.

Norman Lamb: The Department does not have the information available in the format requested. In total, more than 15 million people in England have a long-term condition. However, the Office for National Statistics ‘2011 Census: Long-term health problem or disability, local authorities in the United Kingdom’ has data relating to the number of people with disabilities which limit their 'Day-to-day activities'. This is defined as ‘any health problem or disability (including problems related to old age) which has lasted or is expected to last for at least 12 months.’ The Data for Bristol, Southampton and Nottingham is from unitary authorities (UA) and is presented in the following format1:  Total PopulationDay-to-day activities limited a lot (%)Day-to-day activities limited a little (%)Day-to-day activities not limited(%)Birmingham1,073,0459.19.381.6Manchester503,1279.48.382.2Leeds751,4857.98.983.3Newcastle upon Tyne280,1779.59.281.2Bristol, City of UA428,2348.18.783.3Southampton UA236,8827.78.583.8Nottingham UA305,6809.19.181.9   Notes:   http://www.ons.gov.uk/ons/datasets-and-tables/index.html?pageSize=50&sortBy=none&sortDirection=none&newquery=long-term+conditions&content-type=Reference+table&content-type=Dataset

NHS: Temporary Employment

Mr Frank Field: To ask the Secretary of State for Health, how many NHS hospitals used contract and agency staff in each of the past five years; and how many contract and agency staff have been employed by NHS hospitals in each of the past five years.

Dr Daniel Poulter: The Department does not hold information on the number of National Health Service hospitals using contract and agency staff in each of the past five years. It also does not hold information on how many contract and agency staff have been employed by NHS hospitals.   The Department’s Annual Report and Accounts records the cost of temporary and agency staff used by the different types of NHS organisation including NHS foundation trusts and trusts.

Midwives: North West

Helen Jones: To ask the Secretary of State for Health, how many registered midwives were employed in (a) Warrington hospital and (b) the North West in each year from 2010 to 2014.

Dr Daniel Poulter: The information is shown in the following table.NHS Hospital and Community Health Services: Registered Midwives in England, Health Education North West region and Warrington and Halton Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust in each specified year  Full-time equivalent20101201112012120131 Jun-142   England20,12620,51920,93521,284 21,862   Health Education North West2,9442,9132,9052,968 3,046   Warrington and Halton Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust1051009894 102 Notes:1 Data is taken from the Non-Medical Workforce Census as at the 30 September in each specified year.2 Data is taken from the Provisional Monthly Workforce Statistics as at the 30 June 2014. This is the latest data available.Full time equivalent figures are rounded to the nearest whole number.These statistics relate to the contracted positions within the Trust and may include those where the person assigned to the position is temporarily absent, for example on maternity leave. Data Quality:The Health and Social Care Information Centre seeks to minimise inaccuracies and the effect of missing and invalid data but responsibility for data accuracy lies with the organisations providing the data. Methods are continually being updated to improve data quality where changes impact on figures already published. This is assessed but unless it is significant at national level figures are not changed. Impact at detailed or local level is footnoted in relevant analyses. Monthly data:As from 21 July 2010 the Health and Social Care Information Centre has published provisional monthly NHS workforce data. As expected with provisional statistics, some figures may be revised from month to month as issues are uncovered and resolved. The monthly workforce data is not directly comparable with the annual workforce census; it only includes those staff on the Electronic Staff Record (ESR) (i.e. it does not include Primary care staff or Bank staff). There are also new methods of presenting data (headcount methodology is different and there is now a role count). This information is available from September 2009 onwards at the following website: http://www.hscic.gov.uk/article/1165/Search-catalogue?topics=1/Workforce/Staffnumbers&sort=Date&size=10&page=1#top Source:Health and Social Care Information Centre Non-Medical Workforce Census.Health and Social Care Information Centre Provisional Monthly Workforce Statistics.

Drugs: Misuse

Mr David Hanson: To ask the Secretary of State for Health, whether his Department is providing funding to the International Centre for Drug Policy to produce a National Programme on Substance Abuse Deaths to report for 2014.

Jane Ellison: Public Health England officials are in discussions with St George's, University of London, concerning the production of a National Programme on Substance Abuse Deaths report covering the year 2013.

Drugs: Misuse

Mr David Hanson: To ask the Secretary of State for Health, whether he plans to publish the number of deaths caused by volatile substance abuse in England and Wales in (a) 2013-14 and (b) future years.

Jane Ellison: The Department has asked Public Health England to consider how future data on volatile substance abuse deaths might be collected and reported. Additionally, on 17 October 2014, the Office for National Statistics published a one-off report providing data on drug related deaths involving volatile substances and nitrous oxide in England and Wales, 1993–2013. A copy of the report is attached. 



Drug related deaths 
(Excel SpreadSheet, 20.98 KB)